The United States has withdrawn all B-1 bomber aircraft deployed to Royal Air Force Fairford in Britain following a security incident near the airbase that led to the evacuation of 85 homes.
The Pentagon confirmed Sunday that all US bombers stationed at Fairford had returned to their home bases in the United States.
A Pentagon official said operational security prevented the military from confirming the movement of its aircraft and forces in real time.
Security incident triggers evacuation
British police were called to the area last Sunday after a local farmer reported suspicious activity involving several vans and a group of men near the airbase in southwest England.
The incident prompted authorities to evacuate 85 homes in the surrounding area as a precaution.
Investigators later said they found no explosives inside the vans but recovered what Lawrence Taylor, head of Britain’s National Counter Terrorism Policing, described as “a quantity of petrol”.
Five British men from London, all reportedly in their mid-20s, were arrested in connection with the incident and later released on bail.
US President Donald Trump criticised their release, telling reporters: “I wouldn’t have done that.”
Foreign involvement alleged
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a “foreign actor” was involved in the incident but did not identify the country or organisation allegedly behind it.
Iran’s embassy in London rejected any suggestion of Iranian involvement, saying it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns” such speculation.
The incident occurred amid heightened security concerns around Fairford, which has been used by the United States for military operations involving Iran.
Major incident declared at UK’s Fairford air base used by US forces
The airbase became particularly significant after Britain authorised Washington in March to use the facility for “specific defensive operations into Iran”.
US bombers and other aircraft were subsequently seen operating from the base, making Fairford the only airbase on mainland Britain being used by the United States for the stated purpose.
Suspicious vans reported near airbase
The incident began when a farmer in Whelford, a village near Fairford, contacted police after seeing three vans blocking a road and a group of masked men fleeing the area.
Aerial footage of the vehicles showed what appeared to be barrels inside some of the vans. At least one vehicle reportedly displayed a fake logo and telephone number designed to make it appear to belong to a legitimate diesel delivery company.
Speculation over the motive included a possible security threat or fuel theft, particularly as Britain faced record-high energy prices during the week of the incident.
Security measures around RAF Fairford had reportedly been increased in recent weeks.
The withdrawal of the B-1 bombers comes after the security scare and underscores the heightened sensitivity surrounding the US military presence at the base.
