US pulls B-1 bombers from UK base after terror arrests
Photo: REUTERS
United States removed its B-1 bombers from a UK air base one week after authorities arrested several men on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, a Pentagon official said on Sunday.
A dozen B-1 bombers were stationed at RAF Fairford air base, located northwest of London. US forces had used the aircraft for US strikes on Iran.
“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 re-deployed to their home stations in the United States,” a Pentagon spokesman wrote in an email.
The Wall Street Journal first reported that officials removed the aircraft from the base amid security concerns over suspected terror plots against the facility.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday Britain has “strong indications” that Iran was involved in a suspected plot targeting the base. In response, Iran added that accusations linking Tehran to the alleged plan were baseless and summoned the British ambassador in Tehran over the issue.
British government had allowed the US to use bombers based at Fairford to strike Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Addressing the plot, US President Donald Trump stated that those involved in the plot had planned “big damage”. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also pointed to the “hands of a foreign actor”.
Source: Reuters (adapted)
