The United States has confirmed that all its bombers have been withdrawn from RAF Fairford in southern England, a base used by the US military to launch strikes on Iran. The move comes after a security incident on September 27, which prompted an investigation into possible terrorism. Police were called to the base after reports of suspicious activity involving a group of men and several small trucks.
The incident led to the evacuation of 85 homes near the base, with police later finding quantities of petrol in the trucks but no explosives. According to Lawrence Taylor, head of the UK's National Counter Terrorism Unit, the investigation is complex and police are considering all possible hypotheses, including the involvement of a foreign state. The incident has sparked speculation about possible Iranian involvement, with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham saying there are "strong indications" that Iran played a role.
Iran has strongly denied any involvement, with the Iranian Foreign Ministry describing the allegations as "baseless" and "unacceptable". The US Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that all American bombers had been withdrawn from RAF Fairford and returned to their bases in the US. The move was attributed to "operational security considerations", with a US official telling CNN that the withdrawal was prompted by a "new and unspecified threat".
The US official described the threat as a "real-world incident" and said it was unusual for bombers to be withdrawn to their home bases rather than being relocated to another base in the region. According to the New York Times, US officials received new threats about a possible Iranian-backed plot to target the base. The threats were reportedly similar to those received three weeks ago, but the situation became more urgent over the past 24 hours.
The incident has raised concerns about the security of military bases in the UK, with fuel prices in Britain reaching record highs this week. Six British men, including one with dual British-Iranian citizenship, were arrested and later released on bail in connection with the incident. The arrests sparked criticism from Washington, with the US expressing concerns about the handling of the investigation.
The UK police investigation is ongoing, with officers considering all possible explanations for the incident. The Iranian embassy in London has rejected the allegations, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissing the claims as "unfounded". The incident has strained relations between the UK and Iran, with the Iranian government describing the allegations as a "false flag" operation.
The withdrawal of US bombers from RAF Fairford has raised questions about the future of military cooperation between the US and UK. The incident has highlighted the ongoing security concerns in the region, with the UK and US remaining vigilant about possible threats from Iran. The investigation is expected to continue, with further updates expected in the coming days.
Key points
- The US has withdrawn its bombers from RAF Fairford in southern England after a security incident last month.
- The incident has sparked speculation about possible Iranian involvement, which Tehran has strongly denied.
- The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with police considering all possible hypotheses.
