Translating into Español. The English version is shown until it is ready.
U.S. withdraws 12 B-1 bombers from U.K. base over reported Iran drone threat
En breve
The Pentagon confirmed that all 12 B-1 bombers stationed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, were returned to U.S. bases over the weekend. Yonhap, citing the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times and U.S. and British officials, reported the move followed intelligence that Iran's Revolutionary Guard planned a drone attack on the base aimed at hitting aircraft and killing U.S. personnel. Five men arrested near the base on Sept. 27 on suspicion of plotting terrorism were later released on bail and have not been charged; the UK government says there are strong indications of Iranian involvement, which Iran denies.
Leer la noticia completa 3 min de lectura
The United States has withdrawn all 12 B-1 strategic bombers based at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, returning them to bases in the United States, according to the Pentagon. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported the Defense Department said in a statement that “all U.S. bombers deployed at RAF Fairford have been redeployed to bases on the U.S. mainland” and that it was “ready to provide precise global strike capability.” Yonhap reported from Washington that the Pentagon confirmed all strategic bombers at Fairford had returned. [ 1 , 3 ]
Yonhap, citing the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times and U.S. and UK officials, reported that the withdrawal followed intelligence that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was planning a drone attack on Fairford. Officials said the attack was intended to hit military aircraft and kill U.S. pilots and troops, and WSJ reported it included recruiting British nationals to carry out the attack and diversionary operations nearby. The U.S. military was also briefed late last month on a possible vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack, according to the report. Some U.S. officials believe the plan was modeled on Ukraine's operation, in which drones were smuggled into Russia and launched from trucks, the New York Times reported. The Pentagon declined to comment on the alleged attack plan. [ 3 ]
The U.S. military gave no specific reason for the withdrawal, Kyunghyang Shinmun reported. Axios cited a U.S. official saying the base was under threat of an Iranian attack, and the BBC, quoting a UK government figure, did not deny that the U.S. decision was a response to the alleged plot at Fairford, the paper said. [ 1 ]
Fairford is one of the key European bases used for U.S. military operations against Iran, and at the height of the strikes about 24 B-1 and B-52 bombers were stationed there, WSJ reported. Six B-52s left in July, leaving 12 B-1s until the weekend. The New York Times called the speed of the withdrawal “very unusual” for an allied base thousands of miles from combat, and the Telegraph reported some bombers were ordered to take off while tankers scrambled, Kyunghyang said. Some of the departing bombers had just been rotated in the previous week. [ 1 ]
On Sept. 27, five masked men who had traveled from London in a van carrying fuel drums were found near the base and arrested by British police on suspicion of plotting terrorism. They were later released on bail and have not been charged. The UK government says there are strong indications of Iranian involvement but has not disclosed details. Kyunghyang reported that UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham pointed to Iran as being behind the plot, saying there were “strong indications,” while Iran denied involvement. Kyunghyang also reported a July Revolutionary Guard statement warning that Britain's allowing the U.S. to use its bases “makes London responsible,” and later intelligence warnings that U.S. bases in Europe were within Iranian reach. [ 1 , 3 ]
Vice President JD Vance said the withdrawal was taken with extreme caution to protect U.S. forces and, while avoiding specifics on the possible drone attack, said he was highly confident Iran attempts terrorist acts against the United States and many others, Yonhap reported. The Pentagon declined to comment on the alleged attack plan but confirmed the bombers' return. [ 3 ]
Por qué importa
The withdrawal removes U.S. bombers from a base that the documents describe as central to U.S. military operations against Iran in Europe, at a time when unnamed U.S. officials said the site faced an attack threat. It also ties a U.S. force-protection decision to a British terrorism investigation involving British nationals, which could affect how far London allows Washington to use UK bases. The U.S. military has given no official reason, so the significance rests on accounts attributed to unnamed officials in the WSJ and NYT.
Datos clave
- The Pentagon said all U.S. bombers at RAF Fairford, including 12 B-1s, were redeployed to bases on the U.S. mainland over the weekend. [ 1 , 3 ]
- RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire is described as one of the key European bases used for U.S. military operations against Iran. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Yonhap, citing WSJ and NYT and U.S. and UK officials, reported the withdrawal followed intelligence of a planned IRGC drone attack on the base. [ 3 ]
- Officials said the alleged plan was meant to hit military aircraft and kill U.S. pilots and troops, and WSJ reported an IRGC body recruited British nationals to carry it out. [ 3 ]
- Five men who traveled from London in a van carrying fuel drums were arrested near the base on Sept. 27 on suspicion of plotting terrorism, later released on bail without charge. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Kyunghyang reported UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham named Iran as the force behind the plot, saying there were “strong indications”; Iran denied involvement. [ 1 ]
- Vice President JD Vance said the withdrawal was taken with extreme caution to protect U.S. forces and said he was highly confident Iran attempts terrorist acts. [ 3 ]
Confirmado por varias fuentes
- All strategic bombers at RAF Fairford were returned to U.S. bases, as confirmed by the Pentagon. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Twelve B-1 bombers were withdrawn from RAF Fairford. [ 1 , 3 ]
- RAF Fairford is one of the key European bases used by U.S. forces for military operations against Iran. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Five men were arrested near the base on Sept. 27 on suspicion of plotting terrorism and were later released on bail without charge. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The UK government says there are strong indications of Iranian involvement but has not disclosed details. [ 1 , 3 ]
Aún sin aclarar
- Whether the withdrawal was a direct response to the alleged plot near the base. The U.S. military gave no specific reason; Kyunghyang reported that Axios cited a U.S. official warning of an Iranian attack threat and that the BBC, quoting a UK government figure, did not deny the move was a response, but neither is an official confirmation.
- The details of the alleged IRGC drone attack plan. They rest on unnamed U.S. and UK officials cited by WSJ and NYT in Yonhap's report; the Pentagon declined to comment on the plan and no evidence was made public.
- Whether the five arrested men are linked to Iran, and whether Iran ordered the alleged plot. The UK government cites strong indications but has not disclosed details, the men have not been charged, and Iran denies involvement, a denial only one document in this set carries.
Qué dicen los medios locales
Cronología, hora local
- Six B-52 bombers leave RAF Fairford, leaving 12 B-1s; Iran's Revolutionary Guard warns in a statement that Britain's allowing the U.S. to use its bases “makes London responsible.” [ 1 ]
- Five masked men who traveled from London in a van carrying fuel drums are found near RAF Fairford and arrested by British police on suspicion of plotting terrorism; they are later released on bail without charge. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The Pentagon says 12 B-1 bombers have left RAF Fairford for U.S. bases; a civilian group that tracks military aircraft movements also spots the formation departing. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reports the withdrawal, citing the Pentagon, NYT, WSJ, Axios and the BBC. [ 1 ]
- Newsis's feed headline says the B-1s were withdrawn from Fairford because of the Iran drone threat. [ 2 ]
- Vice President JD Vance says the withdrawal was taken with extreme caution to protect U.S. forces, declining to comment in detail on the possible drone attack. [ 3 ]
- Yonhap reports from Washington that the bombers were withdrawn over concerns about an Iranian drone attack, citing WSJ and NYT and U.S. and UK officials. [ 3 ]