The United States has withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain, a week after five men were arrested near the military base during an investigation into a suspected terrorist plot. The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that the aircraft had returned to their home stations in the United States.
Around a dozen B 1 bombers had been stationed at the Gloucestershire air base, about 100 miles west of London. The aircraft had been used in US military operations against Iran, making Fairford an important base for long range bombing missions during the conflict.
A Pentagon spokesman said the United States could not provide details about the movement of its aircraft while the operation was taking place because of operational security concerns. The Pentagon later confirmed that all US bombers deployed to Fairford had returned to bases in the United States.
The decision came days after British authorities launched a counter terrorism investigation following the arrest of five men close to RAF Fairford. A separate arrest was later made in London involving a 25 year old dual British and Iranian national suspected of preparing a terrorist act connected to the investigation.
Security concerns grow after arrests
The original incident unfolded on September 27, when police were called to the area around RAF Fairford following reports of suspicious activity involving three vans. Five British men in their 20s were arrested on suspicion of terrorism and explosives related offences.
The arrests triggered a major security response. Residents from about 85 homes near the base were evacuated while armed police and bomb disposal specialists examined the vehicles and surrounding area.
Investigators later said they had not found viable explosives in the vans. Police did recover a quantity of petrol, according to counter terrorism officials. The discovery has added uncertainty to the investigation because authorities have not publicly established what the suspects intended to do.
All five men were subsequently released on bail under conditions while the investigation continued. British counter terrorism officials said the suspects remained under investigation as officers examined multiple possible explanations for what had happened.
A further arrest followed on October 1, when British police detained a dual British and Iranian national in London. Officers also searched two properties in the capital as part of the investigation. That suspect was later released on bail.
The arrests have attracted international attention because RAF Fairford has been used by the US military for operations against Iran.
Britain points to possible Iranian involvement
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were strong indications that Iran had played a role in the incident at Fairford. He did not disclose the evidence behind the assessment, saying the investigation remained complex and ongoing.
Iran has rejected the allegation. Tehran described claims linking the country to the suspected plot as baseless and summoned the British ambassador to protest the accusations.
British counter terrorism officials have also been cautious about assigning responsibility. Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said investigators were examining every possible explanation, including the possibility that individuals had acted as proxies for a foreign state, either knowingly or without knowing who was behind the activity.
The distinction matters because investigators have not publicly disclosed evidence showing that the men arrested near Fairford were directly acting on instructions from Tehran.
US officials have nevertheless taken a more forceful position.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the incident involved the hand of a foreign actor, although he did not identify the actor or provide details supporting the claim. President Donald Trump also said he believed Iran might be connected to the incident and expressed surprise that the British suspects had been released on bail.
Fairford's role in US military operations
RAF Fairford has long served as a major operating location for US strategic bombers. Its location and infrastructure have allowed American aircraft to conduct long range missions in Europe and the Middle East.
During the current conflict with Iran, the base became particularly significant after Britain allowed the United States to use it for what officials described as specific defensive strikes.
The US bombers based at Fairford were used in operations against Iranian missile sites that Washington said posed a threat to ships operating in the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is one of the world's most important shipping routes, carrying a large share of global oil and energy supplies.
That military role has also increased the security risks surrounding the base. Iran has previously warned that facilities used to launch attacks against its territory could be considered legitimate targets.
The withdrawal of the bombers therefore comes at a sensitive point in the conflict. Although the Pentagon has not said that the aircraft were removed permanently or that the move ends their role in operations against Iran, the return of the aircraft to the United States removes a major concentration of US bomber power from the British facility.
The Pentagon has also not disclosed whether the aircraft could be redeployed to Fairford later.
Investigation continues after security scare
British authorities are still trying to determine what the suspects were doing near the base and whether their actions were connected to a planned attack.
The absence of viable explosives has complicated the case. Police found petrol in the vans, while speculation has included the possibility of an attempted attack as well as other criminal motives.
Counter terrorism officials have said they are examining multiple lines of inquiry rather than committing to a single explanation.
The investigation is taking place against a wider backdrop of British concerns about foreign state activity. UK security officials have warned that hostile states can use criminal networks or individuals to conduct operations without openly involving government personnel.
The possibility of Iranian involvement has made the Fairford case particularly sensitive because Britain and the United States are already involved in military operations against Tehran.
The release of the suspects on bail has also created a political dispute between Washington and London. Trump said he would not have released the men, while Rubio said many people were disturbed by the decision. British officials have defended the police process and stressed that bail does not mean the investigation has ended.
For the United States, the immediate security decision has been to remove its bombers from RAF Fairford and return them to American bases. For British investigators, the priority is now to establish what the suspects intended, whether anyone directed their actions and whether the incident was connected to a foreign government.
The answers could determine not only the future security arrangements at RAF Fairford but also how Britain and the United States respond to suspected Iranian activity on British soil.
What evidence do you think investigators should examine next to determine whether the Fairford incident was linked to Iran?