The U.S. Air Force has removed all 12 of its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in England and flown them back to their home stations in the United States, the Pentagon confirmed on October 4. The abrupt withdrawal follows what U.S. and British officials describe as a foiled terror plot against the base — one with what London calls "strong indications" of Iranian involvement.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the move. In a statement, a Pentagon official acknowledged: "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."
At least 10 of the 12 B-1 Lancers stationed at the Gloucestershire base took off for home on Sunday, some just days after arriving on a routine rotation. RAF Fairford, about 100 miles west of London, is the only European forward operating location for U.S. heavy bombers and has served as a hub for American strikes on Iran since the war began in February.
U.S. officials told the Journal they were aware of an Iran-linked plot to attack the bomber aircraft and kill personnel at the base. A senior American official said a branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had recruited British nationals to carry out a multi-step plan, including a diversion in a nearby neighborhood.
A source familiar with the decision described the triggering intelligence as a "real world incident," telling CNN it represented a new and credible threat. It is highly unusual for the U.S. to pull bombers all the way back to the continental United States rather than reposition them to another base in the region — a sign, analysts say, of how seriously Washington took the danger.
The suspected plot unraveled in the early hours of September 27, when British police arrested five men, aged 23 to 25 and from the London area, near three white vans close to the base on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses. Police said they found petrol in the vehicles but no improvised explosive devices. The men were released on bail and remain under investigation.
On October 1, police arrested a sixth man — a dual British-Iranian national — on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. He, too, has been released on bail while the investigation continues.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on September 30 that there were "strong indications that Iran played a part" in the incident. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pointed to the "hands of a foreign actor." President Trump said the plotters had intended to cause "big damage" at the airfield and publicly criticized the bail releases: "I'm surprised that they released them. I wouldn't have done that."
Iran has repeatedly denied any involvement, calling the accusations "fabricated speculations," and summoned the British ambassador in Tehran over the matter.
The base's strategic value is geography: the shorter flight distance from Britain to targets in Iran reduces both the time and cost of strikes. Britain had allowed the U.S. to use bombers based at Fairford against Iranian missile sites involved in attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Pentagon stressed that the relocation does not diminish capability: "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 counterterrorism investigation is ongoing, security around the base has been tightened, and six suspects remain on bail. Whether the bombers' absence from Europe is temporary or marks a lasting shift in how the U.S. stages long-range strikes will be the question to watch.