The US has reportedly removed bombers from RAF Fairford over fears of a suspected ‘complex’ drone attack ordered by Iran on British soil, with six men arrested over the past week in connection with an alleged plot targeting the base
The US withdrew bombers from RAF Fairford amid fears of a ‘complex’ drone assault ordered by Iran on British territory, according to reports.
American and European officials with knowledge of the situation told the Wall Street Journal that Iran had devised a scheme to target aircraft and kill personnel stationed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Authorities arrested six men during the past week in connection with a suspected conspiracy targeting the base, which had been accommodating US bombers engaged in strikes against Iran.
Senior US politicians have yet to publicly confirm the B-1 bombers were relocated due to Iranian drone attack concerns. President Trump stated: “I cannot confirm whether Iran launched a drone to Britain, and if it did so, it will suffer devastating losses.”
Nevertheless, the President acknowledged they were repositioned in response to ‘a threat’. “I think we can say that. They didn’t fly out by accident,” he said while departing the White House on Monday (October 5).
“No, but there were some threats and rather than tempting the enemy, we’ll capture the enemy and beat the enemy. But why should we keep them there? So we moved them around a little bit, not very far.”
Vice President JD Vance confirmed the redeployment was ‘out of an abundance of caution, trying to protect our guys’. He continued: “We do feel with some confidence that the Iranians are trying to do what the Iranian state has done for 49 years, which is engage in acts of terrorism against the United States and against a lot of other people as well.”
Downing Street refused to comment on the US decision, and maintained that RAF Fairford remains secure.
The pullout follows days after President Trump expressed his ‘surprise’ that the six suspects, all from London, had been released on bail by police.
On Monday evening, reports emerged that officers were investigating a theory that they were part of a decoy operation. Police believe the men, who drove three vans close to the base’s perimeter, had petrol rather than a viable explosive device.
Iran has struck British military installations in Cyprus and Diego Garcia throughout the US-Iran conflict, which began in February. Despite pulling bombers from one of its most crucial European bases, the Pentagon emphasised the US Air Force maintained the capability to hit ‘anywhere, any time’.