India
oi-Prakash KL
The US military has pulled all of its long-range bombers out of a British airbase and sent them back to the United States after a new security threat emerged, a move that comes as British authorities investigate an alleged plot targeting the same base.
The aircraft had been operating from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, a key forward location for US long-range strike operations. A US official confirmed to CNN that the bombers had now returned to their American home stations.
The US military relocated its long-range bombers from RAF Fairford, UK, to the United States after identifying a security threat, coinciding with a British investigation into an alleged plot targeting the base possibly linked to Iran.
Washington has not said what triggered the decision.
The official described the latest development as a “real world incident” but did not disclose details about the nature of the threat or identify those believed to be behind it. The US military also did not say whether the bombers would be redeployed elsewhere.
The withdrawal is notable because the aircraft were sent back to their home bases rather than being moved to another US or allied facility closer to the region.
The Pentagon said it had deliberately kept the movement of the aircraft under wraps for operational security reasons.
RAF Fairford has hosted US B-1 bombers and serves as an operating location for US Global Strike Command, which oversees America’s long-range strike forces. The base has also been used for US military operations linked to the conflict with Iran.
The development comes against the backdrop of a British counterterrorism investigation. Five men were arrested near the airbase on September 27 over suspected terrorism and explosives offences.
The men, all British nationals aged between 23 and 25 and understood to be from London, were later released on bail. British police said searches of three vans did not uncover explosives.
A further arrest followed last week, when a 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national was detained in connection with the investigation.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has since said there were strong indications of Iranian involvement. He told the BBC on September 30 that the government believed Iran had played a role.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also said investigators believe a foreign actor was involved, although he stopped short of identifying Iran when discussing the case publicly.
Iran has rejected the accusations. Tehran has described the claims as baseless and summoned the British ambassador over the allegations.
The latest US military move adds another layer to the investigation, although Washington has not said whether the threat that prompted the bomber withdrawal was directly connected to the alleged plot in Britain.
