US withdraws B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford a week after terrorism arrests

Fairford, United Kingdom. The United States has withdrawn its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford a week after five men were arrested nearby on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the suspected plot was likely backed by Iran.

Bombers return to US bases

A Pentagon official said on Sunday that the aircraft had returned to their home bases in the United States. RAF Fairford, located 90 miles (145 km) west of London, is the preferred European base for US bombers and had recently been used for US strikes on Iran.

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“We can acknowledge now that all US bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have re-deployed to their home stations in the United States,” a Pentagon spokesman wrote in an email.

The Pentagon added that the US bomber force remained ready to deliver precision global strike capabilities “anywhere, anytime”.

Fairford is one of the US Air Force’s only European airfields suitable for heavy bombers and has historically played a key role in US campaigns in the Middle East. US bombers are not permanently stationed there.

During the current conflict, the United States had permission to use Fairford only for strikes against Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Suspects released on bail

The five men arrested by British police have been released on bail, and the incident remains largely unexplained. A sixth man, a dual UK-Iranian national arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, has also been released on bail.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said in late July that the base was a legitimate target. A NATO military source said on Monday: “It is still believed that Iran poses an acute threat to US assets in the UK”.

Iran has dismissed accusations of involvement in any plot as baseless. Its foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, wrote on X: “I can confirm Iran’s belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all. You’re barking up the wrong tree.”

Analyst assesses operational impact

Christoph Bergs, a research analyst at defence think tank the Royal United Services Institute, said the redeployment would reduce the United States’ short-term capacity “to quickly surge sorties against Iran, reducing the threat level somewhat”.

He noted, however, that operations from Fairford were already limited by London’s stipulation that the base be used only for defensive strikes.

Bergs said the aircraft could potentially be sent to Diego Garcia or bases in the Gulf to reduce the need for additional air-to-air refuelling to cover the extra distance. Any such deployment would depend on available capacity, negotiations with allies and security, he added.