U.S. President Donald Trump said American B-1 bombers were moved from Britain’s RAF Fairford airbase after intelligence pointed to a possible threat linked to Iran.
Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump said American B-1 bombers were moved from Britain’s RAF Fairford airbase after intelligence pointed to a possible threat linked to Iran.
The bombers had been deployed at Fairford, a key U.S. base for heavy aircraft in Europe, and had recently taken part in American military operations involving Iran. Trump said the decision to relocate the aircraft was intended to reduce the risk to U.S. personnel and equipment.
“We had an idea that there might be a threat,” Trump told reporters, adding that the people behind the alleged threat were believed to have links to Iran.
Vice President JD Vance said the withdrawal was a precautionary measure, citing concerns over possible Iranian-backed activity against U.S. interests.
However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to distance the bomber movement from the recent arrests in Britain, saying the Pentagon routinely shifts military assets according to operational requirements.
Five British men were arrested near Fairford last week on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. They were later released on bail. A sixth person, a dual British-Iranian national, was also arrested and subsequently released on bail.
Iran has rejected allegations of involvement in any plot. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi described the accusations as baseless.
Fairford, about 145 km west of London, is one of the few European facilities capable of supporting U.S. heavy bombers. British restrictions have limited the use of the base for offensive operations against Iran.
The Pentagon said U.S. bomber forces remained capable of conducting precision strikes globally despite the redeployment.
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