U.S. Military Abruptly Withdraws B-1 Strategic Bombers from UK Air Base After Detecting Terror Threat

[Financial News] The United States Department of Defense (DoD) has abruptly withdrawn its strategic bomber forces from RAF Fairford, a U.S. air base in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom (UK), where counterterrorism police are conducting an investigation.
On the 5th (local time), a DoD (Pentagon) official confirmed that approximately 12 B-1 Lancer bombers stationed at RAF Fairford had all returned to bases in the continental United States, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Aircraft-tracking websites also detected indications that the B-1 bombers took off from the base on the 4th.
The move came after specific new threats emerged following a major suspected terrorist incident last month, when "three suspicious vehicles" were found near RAF Fairford on the 27th. The New York Times (NYT), citing a U.S. military official, reported that "concrete indications related to a plot by pro-Iranian forces to attack RAF Fairford were detected within the past 24 hours, prompting the U.S. military leadership to make a swift withdrawal decision." Some of the bombers reportedly took off in haste before aerial refueling aircraft could even be deployed.
Officials at the UK prime minister's office did not deny that the withdrawal decision was a response to the incident at RAF Fairford. The BBC also reported that the UK military was notified of the decision following a command-level determination made as part of U.S. military operations, rather than a political judgment. The UK Ministry of Defence has not issued an official position.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said, "There are strong indications that Iran was involved," but the Iranian government has strongly denied the allegations.
Earlier, UK counterterrorism police arrested five British men in their 20s on suspicion of making explosives and preparing for terrorism in connection with vehicles driven around the base, then released them on bail. On the 1st, police also arrested a 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national in London. He, too, was released on bail as the investigation continues.
Located near the village of Welford in the Cotswolds, RAF Fairford has served as a forward operating base for the U.S. Air Force for decades. After the UK government recently approved a U.S. military request to use the base for defensive strikes against Iran, the U.S. military has launched B-1 and B-52 Stratofortress bombers from there into the Middle East.
Ezra Cohen, who served as a senior DoD official during Donald Trump's first administration, told BBC Radio that "B-1 bombers are limited strategic assets that are no longer in production." He described the withdrawal as "a careful and appropriate measure to protect the assets from all forms of threat."
However, with the bombers withdrawn from a key forward base on the outskirts of the European continent, the cost and burden of future U.S. military operations against Iran are expected to increase substantially.


[email protected] Yoon Jae-jun Reporter