US removes all B-1 bombers from UK base following suspicious incident
The Pentagon has confirmed that all US B-1 bombers have left RAF Fairford in Britain, a week after a mysterious incident near the base triggered evacuations. Five arrested men were released on bail, prompting criticism from Washington.
The US Department of Defense confirmed on Sunday that every B-1 bomber aircraft stationed at RAF Fairford in southwest England has now returned to home bases in the United States. A Pentagon official explained that security considerations prevented public disclosure of the aircraft movements as they happened.
The withdrawal follows an unexplained incident near the base a week earlier, when a local farmer spotted several men with vans behaving suspiciously. The episode led to the evacuation of roughly 85 nearby homes.
Fuel found, no explosives
Investigators searched the vans but found no explosives — only a quantity of petrol. One van reportedly carried a fake company logo designed to look like a legitimate diesel delivery business. The incident took place near the village of Whelford, where the farmer reported vans blocking a road and masked men running from the scene.
Five men from London, all in their mid-20s, were arrested in connection with the case and later released on bail. That decision drew criticism from US officials: President Donald Trump said he would not have made the same call, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested a foreign actor could be behind the incident. Iran's embassy in London has rejected any suggestion that Tehran was involved.
RAF Fairford is the only base on Britain's mainland that the US has used for operations connected to Iran, an arrangement approved by London in March. Security at the site had reportedly been tightened in recent weeks before the incident occurred.
