US redeploys B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford after arrests near base
The United States has removed all B-1 bombers deployed at RAF Fairford in Britain, the Pentagon said, a week after five British nationals were detained over suspected terrorist activity near the base. The suspects were later released on bail, while allegations of Iranian involvement remain disputed.
The United States has redeployed all of its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain to their home stations, the Pentagon said Sunday. The announcement came a week after five British nationals were detained following reports of suspicious activity near the base in southwest England. Aircraft-monitoring websites showed the bombers leaving Fairford.
A Pentagon spokesman said operational security had prevented the United States from confirming movements in real time, but acknowledged that all bombers deployed to the base had now departed. About a dozen B-1 aircraft had been stationed at Fairford, a US-operated British airbase northwest of London. The source material does not give a reason for the redeployment or say that it was directly linked to the arrests.
Police were called to the base after a local farmer reported men in several vans. Investigators closed off the area and brought in bomb-disposal teams, but no explosives were found in the vehicles. The five British nationals were later released on bail.
US President Donald Trump criticised their release. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Britain had “strong indications” that Iran was involved in a suspected plot targeting the base. Iran rejected the accusation as baseless and summoned the British ambassador in Tehran.
The Pentagon statement confirmed the movement of the bombers but did not provide further details about the suspected incident, the investigation or the aircraft’s future role.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.