World
US Removes Bombers from RAF Fairford Amid Reported Threats
By Today News Hours Editorial Desk
President Donald Trump said the United States moved its bombers out of RAF Fairford because of "some threats" to the base. The Pentagon confirmed that about a dozen B‑1 bombers were withdrawn from the base and returned to their home stations in the United States. Trump made the remarks as he left for Nebraska on Monday, stating that the U.S. had been aware of a threat that prompted the relocation. Media reports suggested the decision was based on intelligence indicating Iran might be planning a drone attack, but the BBC has not confirmed this and Trump declined to elaborate.
The precise nature of the threat remains unclear. Washington sources told the BBC that it could involve sabotage attempts or an effort to strike the expensive aircraft if hostilities with Iran resumed. One source close to the White House compared the situation to Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, in which drones were smuggled into Russia and launched from locations near airbases.
Earlier on Monday, a spokesperson for the UK’s No. 10 Downing Street said RAF Fairford was safe and referenced Trump’s praise of the UK’s police, defence and security services. The comments come after a major incident on 27 September when police were alerted to three suspicious vehicles near the airbase. Five men were initially arrested on terror‑related charges and later released on bail, with a sixth UK‑Iranian national also arrested and released.
U.S. officials have linked the removal of the bombers to the incident, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision was not unusual and that asset movement is common for exercises and redeployments. Rubio also expressed confidence in the security of U.S. bases and noted British cooperation.
The U.S. has used RAF Fairford as a forward operating location for decades, flying B‑1 and B‑52 bombers to the Middle East after the UK approved their use for defensive strikes on Iran. The redeployment is expected to reduce the U.S. ability to quickly surge sorties against Iran, though the base had already been limited by London’s stipulation that it be used only for defensive strikes.
Iran has denied involvement in the incident and has stated that any base used for aggression against Iranian territory is a legitimate target for its forces.