US pulls B-1 bombers from UK base over threat concerns, citing Ukraine's Spiderweb operation
Photo: The US has withdrawn its B-1 bombers from the British air base RAF Fairford (Getty Images)
The US withdrew about a dozen B-1 bombers from the British RAF Fairford airbase due to threats. The incident near the base is being investigated by counterterrorism police, and officials in Washington suspect Iran's involvement, according to the BBC.
The Pentagon confirms that the bombers have returned to their bases in the US. When asked by reporters if there was a specific threat behind this, Trump answers in the affirmative.
"Yeah I think we can say that. They didn't fly out by accident. There were some threats. And rather than tempting the enemy, we'll capture the enemy and beat the enemy. But why should we leave them there? So we moved them around a little bit. Not very far," Trump says.
According to him, Washington knows who made the threats, but the president did not name any names.
Exactly what the threat to the planes was remains unknown. BBC sources in Washington speculate that it could have been a sabotage attempt or a strike against the expensive bombers in the event of renewed hostilities with Iran.
One source close to the White House cited the example of Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb, in which drones attacked five Russian air bases. According to the source, this demonstrates what the enemy is capable of, even from a distance.
"Whatever they thought it was, it was taken extremely seriously," the source notes.
On September 27, police received a report of three suspicious vehicles near RAF Fairford. Five men were detained on suspicion of terrorism but were later released on bail. A sixth man, a British and Iranian citizen, was also detained and subsequently released.
Trump criticized the suspects' release, and US officials hinted at Tehran's involvement.
