US redeploys B-1 bombers from Britain due to threat from Iran

The US has redeployed B-1 bombers from Britain's Fairford base due to a perceived threat of drone attacks ordered by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This was reported by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) with reference to American and European officials.

The US suddenly moved a dozen B-1 bombers on Sunday, the newspaper reported. This was allegedly part of an Iranian plan to destroy aircraft and kill military personnel at the base, including American pilots.

Earlier, the WSJ, citing American officials, reported that the United States withdrew all B-1 bombers from the base after the incident at the Fairford base. US Vice President J.D. Vance explained the withdrawal as a precaution, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio associated it with a planned rotation.

British police reported a "major incident" near RAF Fairford on September 27. Five British citizens were detained on suspicion of involvement in terrorism and explosives-related offenses and were released on bail the next day. On October 1, a man with dual Iranian-British citizenship was detained.

Fairford AFB is the only base in Europe where American strategic bombers land. From there they flew to bomb Iraq and Yugoslavia. In March, British authorities allowed the United States to use the base for operations against Iran. According to the UK, American aircraft can only use the base for defensive operations. Previously, protests against the aggression of the United States were held near the base.