US pulls all strategic bombers from UK’s RAF Fairford following fresh threat

London: The United States has withdrawn all long-range bombers stationed at Britain's RAF Fairford and returned them to their home bases in the US following an unspecified fresh threat, CNN reported, citing an American official, amid an active inquiry into an alleged Iranian plot directed at the RAF station.

A US official told CNN: "We can acknowledge now that all U.S. bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have redeployed to their home stations in the United States."

The official declined to offer specifics regarding the nature of the security threat or elaborate on the reasons behind the aircraft's departure.

A source familiar with the situation characterised the latest security development as a “real world incident”, according to CNN.

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The source added that it was highly unusual for American military authorities to return the bombers directly to their primary domestic airbases rather than forward-deploying them to an alternative installation within the region.

RAF Fairford has previously been utilised to deploy US B-1 bombers involved in operations against Iran and functions as a key forward operating location for US Global Strike Command, which oversees long-range strike operations.

The strategic repositioning follows days after British security forces apprehended multiple individuals in connection with a suspected Iranian conspiracy targeting the airbase where the American military aircraft were stationed.

Counter-terrorism officers in Britain arrested five men on 27 September on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences in close proximity to RAF Fairford. The suspects, identified as British citizens aged between 23 and 25 from London, were subsequently released on bail.

Police confirmed that no explosive materials were discovered during searches of three vans located at the scene. Their conditional release prompted criticism from US President Donald Trump, who stated, “I wouldn’t have done that.”

A 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national was also taken into custody on Thursday in connection with the suspected plot.

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Tehran has denied any involvement in the incident, dismissing the accusations as baseless, and summoned the British ambassador in Tehran to lodge a formal protest following the allegations.

ANI