LONDON: The United States has withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford, the British military base at the centre of a counter-terrorism investigation following a security incident last month.
A US department official confirmed that all bombers stationed at the Gloucestershire base had returned to their home stations in the United States. Washington did not provide a reason for the withdrawal.
Withdrawal follows security incident
The move comes after police were alerted on September 27 to three “suspicious vehicles” near RAF Fairford. Five men were initially arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences before being released on police bail.
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A sixth man, a 25-year-old UK-Iranian national, was later arrested in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts and was also released on bail.
Whitehall sources have not disputed that the US decision was linked to the incident.
PENTAGON PULLS ALL BOMBERS from UK BASE over ‘NEW THREAT’
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The UK Ministry of Defence has not commented on the decision.
Days after the incident, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications” that Iran had played a role, although he did not provide further details. Tehran has strongly denied any involvement.
The five men initially arrested, aged between 23 and 25, were detained after vehicles were reported travelling towards the US-operated base. They were later released on bail in what police described as an “investigative decision” based on experience and strategy.
RAF Fairford role
RAF Fairford has served as a forward operating location for the US Air Force for decades. In recent months, US bombers had taken off from the base for operations in the Middle East after the UK approved a US request to use it for defensive strikes against Iran.
In July, Iran warned that any base used for attacks against its territory would be considered a legitimate target.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously said the incident “clearly involved” a foreign actor but did not provide further details. US President Donald Trump also criticised the release of the arrested suspects on bail, saying the US would not have taken the same decision.
