US Withdraws Bombers from RAF Fairford After Security Threat

Mon Oct 05 2026 13:44:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The U.S. has removed about a dozen B‑1 bombers from the UK’s RAF Fairford, citing a new threat linked to a recent suspicious‑vehicle incident.

The Pentagon announced the withdrawal of B‑1 bombers from RAF Fairford, prompted by a new threat that followed a suspicious‑vehicle incident on 27 September. Downing Street maintains that the base is safe, while UK defence officials reiterate that defensive measures are in place. The incident has sparked calls for investigations, with speculation that Iran may have been involved, though Tehran denies any role. RAF Fairford has long served as a forward operating base for U.S. bombers targeting the Middle East, and the withdrawal marks a significant operational shift.

US Withdraws Bombers from RAF Fairford After Security Threat

The nose of the Rockwell B1 Lancer heavy bomber on the runway at RAF Fairford

Downing Street has insisted RAF Fairford is safe, after the US withdrew all of its bombers from the military base.

The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that it had removed its bombers—about a dozen B‑1s—from the base back to their home stations in the United States.

US media reported a new threat led to the bombers being removed, following a major incident on 27 September when police were alerted to three "suspicious vehicles" near the airbase.

A Number 10 spokesperson declined to comment on foreign nations' military operations but said the base was safe, noting President Donald Trump’s praise of the UK's police, defence and security services.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting had said last week that the UK had tried and tested approaches to defend its bases worldwide.

RAF Fairford, in the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, is at the centre of a counter‑terror probe triggered by the 27 September incident.

Five men were initially arrested as suspects for terror offences and released on bail, while a sixth, a UK‑Iranian national, was also later arrested and released.

Whitehall has not disputed that Washington’s decision was a response to the incident, describing it as an operational, military decision communicated to British counterparts.

The New York Times reported that US commanders had received new threat warnings about an Iran‑backed plot against RAF Fairford, acting swiftly when details emerged.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said days after the incident that Iran likely had a hand in it, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it clearly involved a foreign actor.

Tehran has denied involvement, though earlier this year it warned that any base used for aggression against Iranian territory was a legitimate target.

RAF Fairford has served as a forward operating location for US air force bombers, including B‑1 and B‑52, for decades, and has been used for defensive strikes on Iran after the UK approved a US request.