The US bomber withdrawal from RAF Fairford has now been completed, a US department official confirmed on Sunday. All American bombers have departed the British military base, returning to their home stations in the United States.
This US bomber withdrawal followed a significant security incident at the Gloucestershire airbase. On September 27, counter-terrorism police were alerted to three “suspicious vehicles” near the facility.
Initially, five men, all UK nationals from London, were arrested. Aged between 23 and 25, they faced suspicion of explosives offences and preparing a terrorist act. They were subsequently released on police bail, a decision police termed “investigative” and “grounded in experience and strategy.”
A sixth man, a 25-year-old UK-Iranian national, was later arrested in London. He was also suspected of preparing terrorist acts. However, counter-terrorism police confirmed on Saturday that he too had been released on bail.
Whitehall sources have indicated that Washington’s decision to remove the bombers was a direct response to this incident. Moreover, it was reportedly a military decision, taken at an operational level. The US military communicated this action directly to its British counterparts.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham commented days after the initial incident, suggesting “strong indications” of Iranian involvement. Tehran has, however, vehemently denied any part in the events. The UK’s Ministry of Defence has declined to comment on the matter.
RAF Fairford has served as a critical forward operating location for the US Air Force (USAF) for decades. In recent months, US bombers have launched missions from the base towards the Middle East. This usage followed UK approval for defensive strikes against Iran.
In July, Iran issued a strong warning. It declared that “any base used for aggression against Iranian territory constitutes a legitimate target for our forces.” Separately, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Fox News that the incident “clearly involve[d] the hands of a foreign actor.” He did not provide further details at the time.
US President Donald Trump also voiced his surprise regarding the release of the initial five men on bail. “We know everything about them, we would not have released them,” he stated. He added that the UK had worked “very closely” with the US on the matter.
