The United States abruptly withdrew all 12 B-1 Air Force bombers from R. A. F.
Fairford in southern England based on new intelligence about a potential drone attack ordered by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. U.S. and British officials say the suspected attack was part of a complex plot to strike aircraft and kill hundreds of American personnel stationed at the base. Vice President JD Vance stated the Pentagon moved the aircraft "out of an abundance of caution to protect our guys," while President Trump confirmed the decision, asking, "Why should we leave them there?" The Wall Street Journal earlier reported the drone threat as the reason for the sudden pullout. The rushed withdrawal came a week after British police arrested five men traveling in white vans near the base; the men were released on bail after no explosives were found, though a British-Iranian dual national was later arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. U.S. and British officials believe the operation is connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Iran has denied the accusations. The sudden move to withdraw bombers from an allied air base in a peacetime country was deemed highly unusual and urgent, with some planes departing while refueling aircraft were still being deployed. Many details about the specific threat remained murky, though a sense of urgency spiked over the weekend.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing