Following arrests made a week ago near the Royal Air Force (RAF) base at Fairford and the launch of an investigation into a suspected terrorist plot, the US has withdrawn its bombers from the base, the BBC reports.US officials confirmed on the 4th of October that the bombers—reportedly around a dozen B-1s—had been withdrawn from Fairford and returned to their home bases. The US did not disclose the reason for the withdrawal, but the decision follows an incident on the 27th of September, when police received reports of three suspicious vehicles near the RAF base. Five men were initially detained on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack but were subsequently released on bail. A sixth man was later arrested and also released on bail.Sources within the British government have not disputed that the US decision was linked to the incident near the RAF base. The BBC understands that this was a military rather than a political decision, and that US military officials discussed the matter with their British counterparts. The British Ministry of Defence has not commented on the withdrawal of the bombers. Flight tracking data indicates that the B-1 bombers departed the RAF base at Fairford on the 4th of October.A few days after the events at the RAF base, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated there were serious indications of Iranian involvement in the incident but provided no further details. Tehran has denied involvement.British police arrested five men—aged 23 to 25—in the early hours of the 27th of September after suspicious vehicles were spotted near the base. All are British citizens residing in London. They were initially detained on suspicion of transporting explosives, and charges of preparing a terrorist act were subsequently brought against them. The men were later released on bail; police stated that this decision was part of the investigation and based on experience and strategy. On the 1st of October, a sixth man was arrested in London on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. The police counter-terrorism unit confirmed that he, too, was released on bail on the 3rd of October.RAF Fairford has also been used by the US Air Force for several decades. In recent months, after the British authorized the use of the base for preparations for strikes against Iran, B-1 and B-52 bombers have used it as a staging point en route to the Middle East. In July, Tehran stated that any base linked to strikes against Iran would become a legitimate target for its forces.Following the initial arrests—and prior to the arrest of the sixth man—US State Secretary Marco Rubio told Fox News that other countries were involved in the incident. He did not provide further details. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed surprise that the five detainees were released on bail.Many of the deployed B-1 bombers are equipped with guided bunker-busting bombs, which feature reinforced casings designed to successfully strike hardened or underground targets. They are also capable of carrying air-to-ground missiles. Depending on the target’s location, each mission from the US could now take 12 to 15 hours, involving mid-air refueling. The Pentagon has emphasized that its bombers remain capable of successfully carrying out missions anywhere and at any time, even if they must take off from the continental United States.
Americans withdraw bombers from British Air Force base · BNN
