The United States has abruptly redeployed a dozen B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain following an alleged Iranian drone attack plot, officials said.
American and European officials cited by The Wall Street Journal reported that the sudden relocation of the twelve aircraft on Sunday followed intelligence concerning a plan ordered by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to the report, the Iranian plan aimed to destroy the strategic bombers on the ground and kill service members at the airbase, including American pilots.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported, citing American officials, that the United States had removed all of its B-1 bombers from the installation following a security incident near the perimeter. United States Vice President JD Vance explained the withdrawal of the aircraft as a precautionary measure, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio linked the redeployment to a planned military rotation.
Police arrests and security investigations
The bomber relocation follows police activity around the military facility late last month. British police reported a major incident near the RAF Fairford airbase on September 27 following suspicious activity in the surrounding area.
Counter-terrorism officers detained five British citizens on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activity and offences involving explosives. Authorities released all five individuals on bail the following day pending further inquiry. On October 1, law enforcement officers detained a man holding dual Iranian and British citizenship in connection with the ongoing investigation.
Strategic role of RAF Fairford
RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force station situated near Fairford in Gloucestershire, southwestern England. It serves as the only airbase in Western Europe specially equipped with heavy-duty runways and infrastructure to support regular operations by United States Air Force strategic bombers. The station has historically functioned as a forward operating hub for American military aviation, having hosted bomber sorties during NATO campaigns over Yugoslavia and military operations in Iraq.
The Rockwell B-1 Lancer is a heavy supersonic strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force, capable of carrying large conventional strike payloads over intercontinental distances. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is a major branch of Iran's armed forces that operates independently of the regular military, maintaining its own ground, aerospace and naval forces while directing Iranian paramilitary operations abroad.
In March, British authorities granted permission for the United States to use the RAF Fairford facility for military operations directed against Iran. However, assurances provided by the United Kingdom specify that American aircraft may use the airfield strictly for defensive operations. The perimeter of the airbase has previously been the site of public demonstrations and protest actions against United States military presence and foreign policy.
