U.S. sends RAF Fairford bombers back to home bases
U.S. officials confirmed all bombers deployed to RAF Fairford returned to the United States as Britain investigates an alleged plot against the base.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
The U.S. has sent the aircraft in the RAF Fairford bombers redeployed move back to their home stations in the United States, Defense Department officials said. The transfer comes while British police investigate an alleged threat against the England base, though the U.S. acknowledgment did not give a public reason for moving the bombers.
A Defense Department official told NBC News that every U.S. bomber deployed to RAF Fairford had returned to its U.S. home station. The official said the Air Force’s bomber force remains able to conduct long-range strike missions, including flights that begin and end in the continental United States.
Why were the RAF Fairford bombers sent back to the United States?
The confirmed U.S. statement did not explain the decision, CNN reported. The redeployment occurred days after arrests connected to a suspected plot near RAF Fairford, but neither the Pentagon official quoted by CNN nor the U.S. military statement publicly established that the investigation caused the move.
RAF Fairford, about 100 miles west of London, is a British base used by U.S. forces and has supported American bomber operations in Middle East conflicts for decades, according to the Associated Press. NBC News reported that it has been used for strikes against Iran, while CNN said it is an operating location for U.S. Global Strike Command.
Open-source aviation observers had seen B-1 and B-52 bombers operating from the base during the Iran war, the Associated Press reported. Reports differed on the exact aircraft involved and the number withdrawn, so U.S. officials’ confirmation that all deployed bombers returned is the clearest available account.
What have police said about the alleged plot?
British police arrested five men near the base on Sept. 27 on suspicion of terror and explosives offenses, CNN reported. The men were released on bail, and police said searches of three vans found no explosives.
A 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national was later arrested in connection with the alleged plot, CNN reported. Six people in total were arrested and released on bail, according to the Associated Press; the investigation remains active.
British officials have said there were strong indications that Iran played a part in the incident, CNN reported. Iran has denied involvement and described the accusations as baseless. The available accounts do not establish publicly what evidence British authorities have for their assessment.
The withdrawal comes as President Donald Trump weighs further options in the conflict with Iran, including possible new strikes, the Associated Press reported. U.S. forces retain a substantial military presence in the Middle East, according to the same report.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.