The US withdrew 12 B-1 strategic bombers that had been deployed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, over concerns about a potential Iranian drone strike. Pictured is a B-1B Lancer bomber taking off from RAF Fairford. [Reuters]
The US withdrew 12 B-1 strategic bombers that had been deployed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, over concerns about a potential Iranian drone strike. Pictured is a B-1B Lancer bomber taking off from RAF Fairford. [Reuters]

The United States withdrew about 12 B-1 strategic bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, returning them to the American mainland — a move driven by intelligence warnings of a potential Iranian drone attack, according to US media reports. Analysts say the pullback hands Iranian hardliners a propaganda win, given that the US moved a key strategic asset without Iran firing a single shot or engaging in any armed conflict.

The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times reported Tuesday (local time) that the US military pulled all 12 B-1 bombers out of Britain last weekend. The withdrawal was described as unusual: the aircraft departed in four formations within just a few hours, with some receiving in-flight refueling support along the way.

President Donald Trump confirmed there had been real "threats" when asked about the withdrawal, saying the planes "didn't just happen to fly away" and that the US knew who was responsible — though he declined to name the party. Vice President JD Vance described the decision Tuesday as "an act of extreme caution to protect our forces."

Media outlets subsequently cited sources saying US authorities had received intelligence that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was planning a drone strike on RAF Fairford before ordering the bombers out. The intelligence indicated the IRGC was developing a complex attack plan aimed at destroying military aircraft on the ground and killing US pilots and other personnel.

The Wall Street Journal reported that an IRGC unit had recruited British nationals to carry out the attack, and that the plan involved multiple stages, including a diversionary operation in the surrounding area. According to The New York Times, US officials believe the plot was modeled on Ukraine's "Operation Spider Web," in which Ukrainian forces smuggled drones into Russian territory and launched them from trucks to strike Russian strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

Earlier, on Sept. 27, five masked men who had traveled from London in a van loaded with fuel canisters were found near RAF Fairford. British police arrested them on suspicion of plotting a terrorist act. They were later released on bail and no explosives were found, but they have not been cleared of suspicion. The British government has not disclosed specific details but said there is strong circumstantial evidence linking the men to Iran.

RAF Fairford has served as a key forward operating base for US operations targeting Iran. Moving the bombers back to the US mainland preserves America's long-range strike capability against Iran, but it increases flight distances and places a greater burden on aerial refueling.

BBC, the Associated Press and other international outlets noted the significance of a core US strategic asset being repositioned without any actual attack on the base. Military and security analysts said the withdrawal could ultimately be read as an Iranian success — Tehran managed to alter the forward deployment of assets aimed at it without launching a single drone or missile.

Peter Ricketts, Britain's first National Security Adviser, said Iran had achieved the effect of disrupting US strategic asset deployments without carrying out a real attack. Analysts also warned that the episode shows the front line of asymmetric conflict between Iran and the United States is expanding from the Middle East to US military bases in Europe, as fears that Iran could destabilize American forward deployments through the mere threat of terrorism or sabotage have now materialized.


kate01@heraldcorp.com