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The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday, October 4, that all US bombers deployed to RAF Fairford in England have returned to their home stations in the United States, Al Jazeera reported. The Wall Street Journal first reported the move.
About a dozen B-1 bombers had been stationed at the base, according to Al Jazeera. A Pentagon spokesperson told the outlet: “All US bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have re-deployed to their home stations in the United States.”
In a separate statement to CBS News, the Pentagon said US bombers routinely operate around the world. It added that the force keeps its global strike capability, including missions that launch and recover from the continental United States.
Fairford has served as a staging point for US bombers during the US-Israel war against Iran. The withdrawal follows a security investigation that began on September 27, when five men were arrested on suspicion of plotting to plant explosives near the base.
Investigators found petrol in three vans but no explosive devices, according to CBS. The five men, who were in their 20s and from London, have since been released. We covered the first arrests in our earlier report on the five men held near the base.
A UK-Iranian dual national was later arrested in London on suspicion of plotting an attack on the airbase, as we reported in our report on the second arrest. Counter Terrorism Policing said on October 3 that the 25-year-old had been released on bail while the investigation continues.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Iran played a part in the incident, without giving specifics, Al Jazeera reported. We reported his remarks in our earlier post.
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