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Donald Trump says a 'threat' led US to move bombers from RAF Fairford
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump confirmed that the US moved its bombers from RAF Fairford due to "some threats" to the base, following a major incident involving suspicious vehicles near the airbase on 27 September.
- The Pentagon relocated about a dozen B-1 bombers back to the US as a precaution, with speculation that the threat may have involved potential sabotage or attacks linked to tensions with Iran.
- While Trump and US Special Envoy Vance suggested Iran's involvement in the threat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the bomber movements as routine military rotations and maintained confidence in the base's security.
- Counter-terror police investigated the incident at RAF Fairford, arresting and releasing six men, including a UK-Iranian national; UK and US officials have hinted at foreign involvement, though Tehran denies any role.
- RAF Fairford has been a longstanding US forward operating location, recently used for bomber flights to the Middle East after UK approval for defensive strikes related to Iranian threats.
