The United States has withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford, a British military base that has been at the centre of a counterterrorism investigation following a security incident last month.
A US Department official confirmed on Sunday that all American bombers stationed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire had been returned to their home bases in the United States. The official did not provide a reason for the withdrawal, BBC reports.
The move comes days after a major security incident near the airbase on 27 September, when police were alerted to three “suspicious vehicles” in the vicinity of the facility, which is operated by the US Air Force (USAF).
Counterterrorism police initially arrested five men on suspicion of terror-related offences in connection with the incident. The suspects, all UK nationals from London aged between 23 and 25, were first detained on suspicion of explosives offences before being further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
The five were later released on police bail in what investigators described as an “investigative decision” based on operational experience and strategy.
A sixth suspect, a 25-year-old UK-Iranian national, was subsequently arrested in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. Counterterrorism police later confirmed that he too had been released on bail pending further inquiries.
Whitehall sources have not challenged suggestions that Washington’s decision to withdraw the bombers was linked to the RAF Fairford incident. According to information obtained by the BBC, the decision was made at an operational military level rather than through a political directive, and was communicated directly between US and UK military authorities.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence has not publicly commented on the withdrawal.
The incident has intensified scrutiny due to RAF Fairford’s strategic role in US military operations. The base has long served as a forward operating location for the USAF and, in recent months, has been used by US bombers conducting missions linked to the Middle East.
The UK had previously approved a US request to use the base for defensive strikes on Iran. In July, Tehran warned that any military facility used for attacks on Iranian territory would be considered a legitimate target for Iranian forces.
Days after the Sept 27 incident, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications” that Iran may have been involved, although he did not provide evidence or elaborate on the claim. Iranian authorities have strongly denied any connection to the incident.
Senior US officials have also suggested the involvement of a foreign actor. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News shortly after the arrests that the case “clearly involve[d] the hands of a foreign actor”, although he declined to provide further details, citing restrictions on what he could disclose publicly.
US President Donald Trump also commented on the case, expressing surprise that the initial five suspects had been released on bail.
“We know everything about them, we would not have released them,” Trump said, adding that British and American authorities had worked “very closely” on the investigation.
The counterterrorism inquiry remains ongoing. Authorities have not announced any charges, and all six suspects remain on bail while investigations continue.
