President Donald Trump announced on Monday that U.S. forces had pulled every B‑1 bomber from RAF Fairford, a British airbase used for strikes against Tehran, following threats he said were tied to Iran—
The move comes hours after the Pentagon confirmed that the aircraft had left the base, citing operational security that prevented real‑time disclosure. Two U.S. officials told the New York Times that the decision followed fresh warnings about an Iran‑backed plot that emerged within the last 24 hours, building on alerts that surfaced three weeks earlier—
RAF Fairford, the only mainland British base authorized for defensive operations into Iran, was the scene of a September 27 incident when a farmer in Whelford reported three vans and masked men blocking a road. Police arrested five suspects, released them on bail after a brief detainment, and recovered a large amount of petrol, though no explosives were found—
The British government insists the base remains secure, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s spokesperson affirming that all protective measures are in place. The Iranian embassy in London has categorically denied any involvement, calling the claims unfounded and insulting—
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed confidence in the safety of U.S. facilities while emphasizing that Washington has worked closely with London on the investigation. The bombers are expected to re‑deploy to their home stations in the United States, and U.S. and U.K. security teams have increased surveillance at RAF Fairford to prevent future incidents.