US Withdraws B-1 Bombers from UK Base Amid Security Concerns

A Pentagon official said the United States withdrew its B-1 bombers from a British air base one week after several men were arrested there on suspicion of plotting terrorist attacks.

Twelve B-1 bombers had been stationed at RAF Fairford, located northwest of London. These aircraft had previously been used in U.S. airstrikes on Iran.

A Pentagon spokesperson wrote in an email, “Although operational security considerations prevented us from confirming the movements of our assets and forces at the time, we can now confirm that all U.S. bombers that were at RAF Fairford have been redeployed to their home bases in the United States.”

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday that Britain has “strong indications” of Iran’s involvement in a plot suspected to target the base.

Iran dismissed the allegations linking Tehran to the alleged plot as baseless and summoned the British ambassador to Tehran regarding the matter.

The Wall Street Journal was the first to report the withdrawal of the aircraft from the base, amid security concerns over suspected terrorist plots against the facility.

The British government had previously allowed the United States to use bombers stationed at Fairford to strike Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. President Donald Trump said those involved in the conspiracy were planning to cause “serious damage,” while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also pointed to “foreign hands.”