US removes bombers from base in England after investigation into alleged terrorist attack

The US Air Force has repatriated bombers stationed at a US-run military air base in England used to attack Iran, following an investigation into a planned terrorist attack on RAF Fairford.

The bombers were withdrawn to their home bases in the United States, according to a Pentagon official who spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to address sensitive military movements.

Aviation observers, belonging to organizations such as the Military Air Tracking Alliance, had detected dozens of B-52 and B-1 bombers operating from RAF Fairford since the early stages of the war with Iran. Several observers noted that a squadron of B-1 bombers took off from the base throughout Sunday.

The move comes as President Donald Trump weighs options for his conflict against Iran (including new attacks), despite his initial promises to the American public that the campaign would last only a few weeks.

"We have decisions to make regarding Iran. Iran has been decimated. So the only question is whether it will be resolved by hook or by crook," Trump told reporters Saturday as he left the White House for a rally in Ohio.

A dual British-Iranian national was arrested last week in central London on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack, following a security incident at RAF Fairford in late September. In total, six people have been taken into custody and subsequently released on bail during the course of the investigations.

British authorities have linked the incident to Tehran. Iran has rejected any involvement, although it has previously warned that it considers any base used to attack its territory a legitimate target.

UK officials say related groups linked to Iran have been behind a string of arson and other attacks in Britain and other countries, many of them targeting the Jewish community to sow fear. They had previously warned that Tehran could expand its targets in the United Kingdom if the fighting in the Middle East continued.