US bombers leave UK's RAF Fairford after arrests in suspected plot
In short
The Pentagon said all US bombers deployed to RAF Fairford in England have returned to home stations in the United States, a week after five men were arrested near the base and later released on bail. Police were alerted in the early hours of September 27 by a farmer who reported three large white vans and masked men near the perimeter; about 85 homes were evacuated. A sixth man, a dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested in London, and officials have raised the possibility of foreign involvement, which Iran denies.
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The Pentagon said all US bombers that had been stationed at RAF Fairford in England have returned to their home stations in the United States. A Defence Department official said operational security had prevented the movement from being confirmed in real time, and added that bomber crews remain “ready to deliver precision global strike capabilities”. The move came a week after five men were arrested outside the base, and The National reported that the withdrawal would be seen as a “success by Iran” by former British diplomats. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Police were called to RAF Fairford, about 145km west of London, in the early hours of September 27 after a farmer reported suspicious activity involving three large white vans and a group of masked and hooded men running into a nearby field. Armed officers arrested five suspects in the Whelford area, around a mile from the base, and nearby properties were evacuated, with about 85 homes affected according to Gulf News. Three vehicles were searched. Emirates 24|7, citing Reuters, reported that the five were initially arrested on suspicion of offences under explosives legislation and were later re-arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The five men were subsequently released on bail. A sixth man, described as a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested in central London on Thursday in connection with the suspected plot, and police described what they called a “hugely complex” investigation. [ 1 , 3 ]
Senior officials commented on the case. US President Donald Trump said those involved had planned “big damage”, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to the “hands of a foreign actor”. British counter-terrorism police later confirmed they were examining whether a foreign state may have been involved, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications” Iran may have been behind the incident. Iran has denied any involvement and summoned the British ambassador over the allegations, Reuters reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The Pentagon has not said the relocation of the bombers was directly linked to the security incident, and British authorities have not established that the suspects were targeting the base or the US aircraft. Rubio said the United States still had confidence in UK bases and denied suggestions that the withdrawal was tied to the suspected plot, saying the Department of War constantly reallocates resources and that regular rotations occur. Gulf News reported that RAF Fairford, in the Cotswolds, has been used for US military operations involving Iran since Britain authorised Washington to conduct specific defensive operations from the base in March, and that it serves as a forward operating location for US Air Force Global Strike Command. [ 2 , 4 ]
The National reported that former diplomat Edmund Fitton Brown said Iran could interpret the withdrawal as a weakening of the US deterrent and of its alliance with Britain, adding that from the Iranian point of view it is “already a win” if a wedge is driven between two NATO allies. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
RAF Fairford is a British-owned base used by the US Air Force and described by Gulf News as a forward operating location with one of the UK's longest runways, making its bomber deployments significant beyond the immediate investigation. The case has drawn statements from senior US and UK officials, a denial from Tehran and, according to former British diplomats cited by The National, could be read as a gain for Iran. The Pentagon has not said the withdrawal was linked to the security incident, and British authorities have not established that the suspects were targeting the base.
Key facts
- The Pentagon said all US bombers deployed to RAF Fairford have redeployed to their home stations in the United States. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Five men were arrested near the Gloucestershire base in the early hours of September 27 and were later released on bail. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A sixth man, described as a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested in central London in connection with the investigation. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Police were alerted by a farmer who reported three large white vans and a group of masked men near the base perimeter, and about 85 homes were evacuated. [ 2 , 3 ]
- UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications” Iran may have been behind the incident, while US officials referred to a possible foreign actor. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Iran has denied involvement and summoned the British ambassador over the allegations, according to Reuters. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Former British diplomats said the withdrawal of the bombers would be seen as a “success by Iran”, The National reported. [ 4 ]
- The Pentagon has not said the bomber relocation was directly linked to the security incident. [ 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Pentagon said all US bombers deployed to RAF Fairford have returned to their home stations in the United States. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Five men were arrested near RAF Fairford in the early hours of September 27 and were later released on bail. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A separate man, described as a dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested in London as part of the investigation. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Iran has denied any involvement in the suspected plot. [ 2 , 3 ]
- RAF Fairford is a British-owned base used by the US Air Force that has supported US military operations involving Iran. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the bomber withdrawal was connected to the security incident. The Pentagon has not said the relocation was directly linked, British authorities have not established that the suspects were targeting the base or the US aircraft, and Rubio denied a direct link, while former diplomats cited by The National drew a connection in interpreting the move.
- Who or what was behind the suspected plot, and whether a foreign state was involved. British counter-terrorism police said they were examining whether a foreign state may have been involved; Iranian involvement has been suggested by officials but not established, and Iran denies it.
- How many of those detained have been released. Document 1 says five men were released on bail and a sixth man was arrested in London, while document 4 refers to the arrest and release of six people; the documents do not state the sixth man's current status.
- What was found in the vehicles near the base. Gulf News reported that police said no explosives were found in the vans although petrol was recovered; this detail appears in only one document.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States still had confidence in UK bases and denied that the withdrawal was directly linked to the incident. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The National reports the Pentagon's announcement that all US bombers deployed to RAF Fairford have redeployed to home stations in the United States. [ 1 ]
- Gulf News publishes an explainer setting out what is known about the incident, the evacuations and the base's role in US operations involving Iran. [ 2 ]
- Emirates 24|7 reports that British counter-terrorism police are investigating a suspected plot targeting the base and that a dual UK-Iranian national has been arrested in London. [ 3 ]
- The National reports former British diplomats saying the withdrawal of the bombers will be seen as a success by Iran. [ 4 ]