Air Force pulls bombers from RAF Fairford

The Air Force pulled all of its bombers deployed to RAF Fairford, sending them back to the United States a week after several people were arrested outside the British air base on suspicion of plotting terrorist actions.

A defense official confirmed to Task & Purpose that Air Force bombers, including B-1s, B-2s and B-52s have all left the base. In a statement the official said that while “operational security precluded us from confirming the movement of our assets and forces in real-time, we can acknowledge now that all U.S. bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have re-deployed to their home stations in the United States.”

“The airmen that operate America’s bomber force, including B-1s, B-2s, and B-52s, remain ready to deliver precision global strike capabilities — including through operations that launch and recover from the continental United States — anywhere, anytime,” the statement continued.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on the bombers’ movement.

The official did not give a specific reason for the movement of the bombers, but it comes days after five people were arrested last weekend over suspicion of plotting a terrorist action near the base. The men were detained in the early hours of Sept. 27 after three vans were seen driving towards the base. British authorities set up a large security cordon around the base and a nearby village, with explosive ordnance teams brought in as well.

A sixth individual, a British-Iranian dual national, was later arrested as well. All six have been released on bail. British counterterrorism police are continuing to investigate the incident, although the exact nature of the events remains unclear. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in the following days that there were “strong indications” that Iran was involved, which Tehran has denied. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said the incident at RAF Fairford “involves the hands of a foreign actor.”

RAF Fairford, located in Gloucestershire southwest of London, has been heavily utilized by the Air Force in support of the Iran war. B-52 Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer bombers have staged at the base before heading to the Middle East on missions. The RAF also stages aircraft including fighter jets at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall.