U.S. bombers leave British airbase after foiled terror plot

Bombers stationed at the RAF Fairford base in England returned to bases in the United States, the Air Force told WORLD on Monday via email. America’s bombers remained ready to conduct precision global strikes anywhere, at any time, the Air Force said. The move came amid an investigation into a potential terror plot involving the base. British counterterrorism police arrested five suspects near the base roughly a week ago on suspicion of breaching explosives and terrorism laws. They have been released on bail. Police later arrested a dual British-Iranian citizen in connection with the plot, though he also was released on bail.

The Fairford base’s bombers were used in some U.S. strikes against Iran. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently said foreign actors were involved in the terror plot. Iran previously launched attacks on bases in the Middle East that host American forces. But Iran’s embassy in the United Kingdom has denied that the Tehran government was involved.

Aviation enthusiasts from the Military Air Tracking Alliance said 15 bombers were located at the Fairford base in May. Some of them came from the Ellsworth base in South Dakota, while others came from the Dyess base in Texas.

Dig deeper: Read my previous report for details on the suspects arrested near RAF Fairford.