Daijiworld Media Network - Virginia

Virginia, Oct 5: The United States has withdrawn all its bombers from the Royal Air Force (RAF) base at Fairford in western England amid concerns over a possible attack on the facility, according to reports.

Around a dozen US B-1 bombers had been stationed at RAF Fairford before an urgent redeployment saw the aircraft return to the United States.

The Pentagon confirmed that all US bombers deployed to RAF Fairford had been redeployed to their home stations in the US.

"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 spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that airmen operating the US bomber fleet, including B-1, B-2 and B-52 aircraft, remain prepared to carry out precision global strike operations, including missions launched from and recovered to bases in the continental United States.

The reason for the sudden withdrawal has not been officially disclosed. It comes amid the ongoing war involving the US, Israel and Iran and heightened concerns over a possible attack targeting the British base.

RAF Fairford, located around 160 km west of London, has served as a staging point for US bombers involved in military operations in the Middle East.

Security concerns around the base increased after British authorities arrested five men on September 27 on suspicion of plotting to plant explosives near the facility. The suspects were released without charge the following day, although investigations continued. Police reportedly found petrol in their vans but no explosive devices.

British authorities subsequently arrested a 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national in London on suspicion of preparing an attack against the airbase.

Counter Terrorism Policing said the investigation was "hugely complex" and that specialist teams were pursuing multiple lines of inquiry, including possible foreign-state involvement.

Iran has denied involvement in the alleged plots. The Iranian government also summoned the British ambassador in Tehran to protest against the arrests.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham had suggested that Iran may have played a role in the alleged plot, although he did not provide details. US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, praised British authorities for the arrests and said the suspects had been under investigation for some time.

The US has a long history of using RAF Fairford for military operations, including during conflicts in the Middle East since the Gulf War in the 1990s. The base has also been the site of anti-war protests, including an incident in 2003 when five protesters broke into the facility in an attempt to damage military equipment intended for the US invasion of Iraq.

The UK has largely refrained from directly participating in the ongoing war against Iran. However, the government granted the US "defensive" access to British bases, including RAF Fairford and RAF Diego Garcia, in March.

The withdrawal of the bombers comes as security agencies continue to investigate the alleged plots and amid heightened tensions between Iran, the US and Israel.