The United States unexpectedly withdrew 12 B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford, a British air force base in southern England, citing what US officials described as urgent reasons linked to new threats connected to Iran. Three unnamed officials said at least three aircraft had reached their home base in South Dakota by Sunday.
US European Command confirmed on Sunday that the bombers had left England, without commenting on the new warnings. It said in a statement: “We can now confirm that all US bombers deployed at RAF Fairford are redeploying to their home bases in the United States.”
The command added: “US Air Force bombers routinely operate around the world to support global force readiness and operational requirements.” The US Defence Department said the bombers remained ready to carry out their missions from US territory.
Washington refuses to disclose the nature of the new information
US officials on Sunday declined to specify the nature of the new information that prompted the rapid withdrawal of the Air Force bombers. Some of the aircraft had arrived at RAF Fairford only last week as part of a routine troop rotation.
The New York Times quoted a US official as saying that the new information fell within the same warnings issued three weeks ago, but that the urgency associated with them had increased over the past few hours, raising concern among commanders and prompting the bombers’ redeployment to the United States.
Arrests and investigations near RAF Fairford
The move came a week after British police arrested five men travelling in vans near RAF Fairford on the previous Sunday morning. US bombers use the base in the American-Israeli war on Iran. Police released the men on bail one day later after authorities found no explosives in the vans, while keeping them under investigation.
In another incident, authorities last Thursday arrested a British-Iranian dual national on suspicion of planning terrorist acts. Officials in the United States, Britain, Germany and Israel believe the potential threats may be linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard or a separate military command in Tehran, while Iran denied the allegations.
Israeli warnings of risks to US bases
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said intelligence officials in his country had warned their British counterparts of a possible Iranian-backed attack, without identifying a specific target. A senior US official also said Israel had warned Germany of growing risks facing US bases on its territory, naming Spangdahlem and Ramstein air bases.
The classified assessments included warnings of possible follow-up attacks that could involve the use of drones, as Washington returned the bombers to US bases while keeping them ready to carry out missions.
