The Pentagon confirmed that every US bomber deployed to RAF Fairford in England has returned to its home station after fresh warnings of an Iranian attack on the base.
The big picture: At least 10 of the 12 B-1 bombers at Fairford flew out on Sunday, including aircraft that landed in the past week as part of a normal rotation, a pace that signals how seriously commanders took the warning.
What they're saying: "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," a Pentagon spokesperson said.
- The Pentagon added that its bomber force, including B-1s, B-2s and B-52s, remains ready to deliver precision global strike from the continental United States.
The backstory: British authorities arrested five men on September 27 on suspicion of plotting to plant explosives near the base, and police arrested a 25-year-old UK-Iranian dual national in central London last week. Six people in total have been taken into custody and bailed.
- Investigators found petrol but no explosive devices in the men's vans, per Al Jazeera, and the first five were released a day later while the inquiry continues.
Between the lines: A US official told the New York Times the intelligence was part of threat warnings that surfaced three weeks ago, but that specific details and a sense of urgency spiked in the prior 24 hours, alarming commanders.
Yes, but: Iran denies any role and summoned the UK ambassador to Tehran in protest of the arrests. Counter Terrorism Policing says it is examining all possible angles, including possible foreign state involvement.
- Washington also sent the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and the USS Makin Island amphibious readiness group toward the region last week, a move that could put three carriers there by late October.
Why it matters: Fairford, 100 miles west of London, has staged US bombers through Middle East conflicts since the Gulf War, so moving the fleet home shifts strike missions against Iran onto flights that launch and recover in the continental US.
