US Evacuates Dozen B-1 Bombers From UK’s RAF Fairford Airbase Over Suspected Iranian Threat

The US military evacuated a dozen B-1 bombers from the RAF Fairford airbase in the UK over the weekend as a result of intelligence suggesting an Iranian drone attack, US officials said. The dozen B-1 bombers were evacuated from the base in the UK only several weeks after being deployed there, departing so rapidly that aerial refuelling aircraft had to be scrambled to support their non-stop transit back to the United States.

The sudden withdrawal followed concerns that an Iranian-orchestrated drone strike launched from British soil could kill American personnel and destroy strategic assets, Axios reported. Such an incident would mark an unprecedented strike against an allied European airbase with the potential to ignite wider military escalation. On Sunday, the Pentagon confirmed that "all US bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have re-deployed to their home stations in the United States," adding that its global bomber fleet, including B-1s, B-2s, and B-52s, "remain ready to deliver precision global strike capabilities, including through operations that launch and recover from the continental United States." UK PM Andy Burnham ‘Strong Indications’ Iran Involved in RAF Fairford Security Incident.

Conflicting Messages From Washington and Downing Street

The abrupt redeployment produced contradictory messaging within Washington and highlighted sharp divergence with London. Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially downplayed the operation, telling reporters that the movement of the bombers was part of "regular rotations" of US Air Force assets around the world and was not directly tied to an Iranian threat. Rubio added that "with the Brits, we’ve worked very closely for a long time, including on this investigation, and they couldn’t be more cooperative."

Several hours later, US President Donald Trump publicly contradicted Rubio, confirming that the aircraft were moved due to an imminent security risk from Tehran. "They didn't fly out by accident ... there was a threat. We moved them around a little bit," Trump said, adding: "There were some threats, and rather than tempting the enemy – we’ll capture the enemy and beat the enemy, but why should we leave them there? So we moved them around a little bit, not very far." When asked whether Iran planned a drone attack from British soil, Trump replied: "I can't tell you that. If they did they will suffer greatly." Asked about the recent FlyDubai cockpit incident, Trump stated he believes Iran was responsible.

Downing Street insisted the Gloucestershire base remains safe, with the prime minister's spokesperson replying "yes" when asked if the installation was secure, pointing to "tried and tested approaches to defend our bases around the country and throughout the world."

Counter-Terrorism Arrests and Drone Attack Concerns

The decision to withdraw the aircraft came several days after British security forces arrested several dual British-Iranian citizens suspected of planning an attack on the base. Five men from London were detained in the nearby village of Whelford in white vans. A subsequent search found a barrel of petrol but no explosive devices, and all five were released on bail. Trump voiced surprise over their release, remarking: "We know everything about them, we would not have released them." A sixth man, a dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested in London on Thursday for preparing acts of terrorism and similarly bailed over the weekend.

US officials told the New York Times that commanders acted on fresh intelligence regarding an Iran-backed plot against the base, which had been on high alert for more than a week. An ITV News report indicated the US feared a coordinated swarm attack similar to Ukraine’s "Operation Spiderweb," where small truck-launched drones destroyed ten Russian bombers last year. However, UK defence sources expressed scepticism over whether Tehran possessed the logistical reach to conduct such a complex strike 2,700 miles away.

Intelligence Sharing and Base Vulnerabilities

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel provided the UK with intelligence pointing to a threat of an Iranian attack. Israeli involvement prompted high-level diplomacy, with Rubio calling Netanyahu from his plane en route to Iceland.

RAF Fairford has maintained high readiness since being used for US airstrikes against Iranian positions earlier this year, prompting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to label the base a legitimate target in July. Security analysts noted that while the base has extensive perimeter defenses, dispersal remains standard military doctrine when unquantified asymmetrical risks emerge. Matthew Savill, an expert with the Royal United Services Institute, observed: “Airfields are hard to defend, but the US could be making a point or just being very cautious.”

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 06, 2026 07:24 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).