The United States has withdrawn all of its B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers from RAF Fairford, just over a week after British authorities arrested five men initially on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism near the base.
All five, and a UK-Iranian dual national arrested on 1 October under suspicion of plotting a terror attack, have since been released on bail.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the warplanes were removed due to ongoing concerns for other potential terror plots against RAF Fairford, although UK authorities have given no indication they believe another attack against the facility is imminent.
However, the development also comes in the wake of fresh comments from Donald Trump suggesting the US could look to escalate its fight against Iran after the midterm elections, raising the possibility the bombers are set to be redeployed elsewhere to carry out strikes.
When and why did the planes depart?
In an emailed statement, a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed all of the bombers had departed RAF Fairford by Sunday evening.
“While operational security precluded us from confirming the movement of our assets and forces in real-time, we can acknowledge now that all US bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have redeployed to their home stations in the United States,” they said.
A host of B-1 bombers were observed departing the base on Sunday, although it is not clear when the other planes returned to the US.
Various reports have indicated the decision to recall the aircraft was based, in part, on concerns about security at the base.
The BBC said the decision was military and operational, not political, and added the British armed forces were informed.
The Ministry of Defence has yet to comment on the departure of the US planes.
While British authorities have not suggested they believe further attacks against RAF Fairford are likely in the immediate future, the release on bail of six men allegedly linked to the security scare has drawn the ire of Trump.
“We know everything about them, we would not have released them,” he told US media following their release.
It is unclear whether the US President had any influence over the decision to withdraw the planes, but some reports indicated deliberations over the move were quick.
NBC News, citing unnamed Pentagon sources, reported some of the bombers removed from RAF Fairford had only just arrived as part of a new rotation to the base.
Could bombers be needed for fresh Iran strikes?
The decision to withdraw bombers from RAF Fairford came as Trump renewed speculation he could order fresh strikes on Iran after the US midterm elections.
“We have decisions that I’ll make about Iran. Iran’s been decimated. So the only question is — it’ll either be the easy way, or the hard way,” he told reporters on Saturday.
Trump also warned Tehran would pay a “heavy” price if it was found to be responsible for the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight to Israel.
According to Axios, top US officials held secretive talks at Camp David on Friday to discuss ways of finally ending the Middle East conflict, including by conducting major strikes.
US forces have been using RAF Fairford as a forward base for operations in the Middle East for decades, and had been granted permission to launch “defensive” strikes on Iran from the facility by former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Under the terms of that arrangement, continued by the current Government, bombers stationed at the base would have been unable to take part in new, aggressive measures.
It is therefore possible the warplanes were relocated to ensure they were available to conduct fresh strikes, with the Pentagon noting: “The Airmen that operate America’s bomber force, 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 – anywhere, anytime”.
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