Amid Fears of Iranian Terrorism, U.S. Strategic Bombers Evacuated from UK Air Base to U.S. Mainland

[Financial News] As concerns grow over terrorism linked to Iran, the U.S. military has reportedly withdrawn strategic bombers stationed at a U.S. air base in the United Kingdom to the U.S. mainland. The United States claims there are indications that Iran played a role in the terrorist plot near a U.S. Air Force base in the United Kingdom.
According to the Associated Press on the fourth, a U.S. Defense Department source said that all U.S. Air Force bombers deployed at Fairford air base in Gloucestershire had been redeployed to the U.S. mainland.
Fairford air base is known to have operated dozens of B-52 Stratofortress and B-1 Lancer bombers since the early stages of the war with Iran, which began in February.
The Military Aircraft Tracking Coalition, a civilian group that tracks military aircraft movements, said it had captured footage that day showing a large number of bombers leaving Fairford air base.
On the 27th of last month, British police arrested five British men near Fairford air base on explosives- and terrorism-related charges. The three vans they were driving contained no explosives, but did carry a considerable amount of gasoline.
Several days later, police arrested a dual British-Iranian national on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack.
The United Kingdom, the United States and Israel have all raised the possibility that Iran was involved in the incident.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated, "There are strong indications that Iran played some role in the incident near Fairford air base last weekend."
U.S. President Donald Trump also mentioned the possibility that the suspects were linked to Iran, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, "There is clearly the hand of a foreign actor involved."
Iran, however, has categorically denied the allegations.
The New York Times (NYT) highlighted indications that Iran may be adopting Russia's model of hybrid warfare in connection with allegations that Tehran was behind the terrorist plot. The report said Iran recruits "one-time agents" online who have no direct links to its intelligence agencies and uses them to carry out attacks whose masterminds remain unclear.
Adrian Stuni, a U.S. counterterrorism expert, told NYT, "The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps can cheaply recruit criminals, young people and others as one-time agents whenever it wants," adding, "There are multiple layers of intermediaries between the IRGC and the agents, so even if an operation fails, no diplomat is expelled and no pretext for war is created."
President Trump is currently weighing an agreement with Iran against resuming military operations against the country.
[email protected] Reporter Park So-hyun Reporter