US moves all B-1 bombers out of British RAF Fairford amid Iran tensions
Photo: B-1 bomber (www.af.mil)
The US has withdrawn all of its B-1 bombers from the British air base RAF Fairford. The decision was made due to concerns that there might be terrorist plots against the facility, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The decision reflects a shift in the US position, as the US was using a military base northwest of London as a hub for bomber strikes against Iran. Before the aircraft were withdrawn to the US, there were about a dozen (12) B-1 bombers at the base.
The Pentagon states that although operational security considerations prevented it from confirming the movement of US assets and forces in real time, it can confirm that all US bombers deployed at RAF Fairford were returned to their bases in the United States, adding that the aircraft remain ready to launch strikes from US territory.
This decision was made following the arrest of six suspects in connection with an alleged attack on the base, which, according to US and British officials, was thwarted last Sunday.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that there were serious grounds to believe that Iran played a role in this incident. The situation remained shrouded in secrecy after British authorities released the suspects on bail while continuing the investigation.
According to the WSJ, US officials were aware of an Iran-linked plot to attack the bombers and kill personnel at the base. A US official said that a unit of the IRGC had recruited British citizens to carry out this plot. It involved several stages, including a diversionary maneuver in the surrounding area.
Meanwhile, British authorities are still trying to determine what happened, and some British officials are questioning the sophistication of the planned attack.
US President Donald Trump previously stated that the aforementioned arrested men intended to cause serious damage to the base and were under investigation. He also stated that he would not have released them.
US-Iran tensions
In September, the UN General Assembly took place in New York, during which Iran proposed a peace plan to the US and attempted to initiate a dialogue. However, US President Donald Trump rejected this plan and told his inner circle that he expected bombing to resume after the congressional elections.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the Iranian delegation that had arrived for the General Assembly to leave US territory. This occurred after negotiations between the parties reached an impasse.
