The U.S. Air Force has withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford, a U.S.-run air base in England, following an investigation into a suspected terror plot against the facility. The aircraft have been flown back to their home bases in the United States, according to a Pentagon official who spoke anonymously Sunday because they were not authorized to discuss sensitive military movements.
Aviation tracking groups, including the Military Air Tracking Alliance, had documented dozens of B-52 and B-1 bombers operating out of RAF Fairford since the early days of the Iran war. Observers noted a number of B-1 bombers departing the base on Sunday.
Trump Weighs Next Steps Against Iran
The withdrawal comes as President Donald Trump considers his options in the ongoing conflict with Iran, including the possibility of new strikes, despite earlier assurances that the campaign would wrap up in a matter of weeks. Speaking to reporters Saturday as he left the White House for a rally in Ohio, Trump offered a blunt assessment of where things stand.
“We have decisions that I’ll make about Iran. Iran’s been decimated. So the only question is, it’ll either be the easy way, or the hard way,” Trump said.
The base at RAF Fairford, located roughly 100 miles west of London, has served as a launching point for American bombers across multiple decades of Middle East conflicts. Its use in strikes against Iran made it a potential high-value target for retaliation. You can read more about the RAF Fairford terror plot investigation in the original reporting.
Six Arrested in Terror Plot Linked to Tehran
A dual British-Iranian national was arrested in central London last week on suspicion of plotting an attack, following a security incident at RAF Fairford in late September. In total, six individuals have been taken into custody and subsequently released on bail as the investigation continues. British authorities have linked the alleged plot to Tehran, though Iran has denied any involvement.
The U.S. military has not stepped back from its broader posture in the Middle East. A U.S. official confirmed Thursday that the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and the USS Makin Island amphibious readiness group, which together carry more than 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines, are heading toward the region. That movement could result in three U.S. carrier groups operating in the area as early as the end of October, the official said, signaling that Washington is maintaining significant military pressure despite the bomber redeployment from Britain.
