US withdraws all bombers from RAF Fairford after foiled terrorist plot
The United States has pulled all of its bombers out of RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom following a foiled terrorist plot at the base. A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed on Sunday that the aircraft, including B-1, B-2, and B-52 models, have been redeployed to bases in the continental United States. The withdrawal comes after arrests in Britain on 27 September under the Explosives Act.
Key points
- The US withdrew all of its bombers from RAF Fairford airbase in the United Kingdom.
- Aircraft redeployed included B-1, B-2, and B-52 models, with at least 12 bombers returned to bases in the continental US.
- A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed the withdrawal on Sunday 5 October 2026.
- A terrorist plot was foiled at RAF Fairford in late September; arrests were made in Britain on 27 September under the Explosives Act.
- British police later said the arrests related to the preparation of a terrorist act.
- US President Donald Trump said the suspects had been under surveillance for a long time and had planned major damage to the base.
- UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham cited 'strong indications' of Iranian involvement in the plot.
Why it matters
The withdrawal removes the main US forward operating base for Air Force Global Strike Command bombers in Europe, stripping a key staging post for potential strikes. At least 12 strategic bombers across three models have been sent back to the continental United States, and British authorities have pointed to possible Iranian involvement, raising the prospect of a state-sponsored threat to NATO territory hosting US assets. The redeployment also coincides with the White House weighing further military options against Iran, suggesting a possible shift in the US approach.
What happened
The US has withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom. A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed on 5 October 2026 that US Air Force bombers had been pulled from the base; the aircraft, including B-1, B-2, and B-52 models, have been redeployed to bases in the continental United States. Two Pentagon sources told NBC News that at least 12 bombers were withdrawn, some of which had only recently arrived as part of a rotation. The move follows the foiling of a terrorist plot at the base: on 27 September, people were arrested in Britain on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act in connection with an incident near RAF Fairford, and British police subsequently said the arrests related to the preparation of a terrorist act. US President Donald Trump said the suspects had been under surveillance for a long time and had planned to cause major damage to the airbase. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there are 'strong indications' of Iranian involvement. The withdrawal comes as the White House weighs options for continuing the war against Iran, including new strikes.
Where reporting differs
Sources differ on the exact nature of the Fairford plot: Ukrainian-language coverage frames the events around a 'terrorist act' or 'attempted terrorist act,' while the underlying facts describe arrests under the Explosives Act that British police later characterised as relating to the 'preparation of a terrorist act.' Sources also vary in how directly they attribute Iranian involvement to UK authorities: one fact attributes the 'strong indications' of Iranian involvement to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, while other facts do not name any UK official as independently confirming that link.
Background
RAF Fairford serves as the main forward operating base for US Air Force bombers in Europe for Air Force Global Strike Command. US B-1 Lancer bombers had been deployed to the base in March as part of operations linked to a war with Iran.