All U.S. bombers deployed to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire have returned to the United States, the Pentagon confirmed on Oct. 4, 2026, a week after police arrested men near the base over a suspected terror plot.
Aircraft-tracking data showed B-1 bombers leaving the base on Sunday, the Irish Times reported. U.S. officials cited by The New York Times said all 12 B-1s were withdrawn rapidly after new warnings of a suspected Iran-backed plot, according to NewsNation.
The Pentagon did not describe the reason for the move. U.S. European Command did not discuss specific threat information, NewsNation reported.
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What the Pentagon Confirmed
A Pentagon official said operational security had prevented the department from confirming the movement of aircraft in real time, but that all U.S. bombers deployed to RAF Fairford had redeployed to their home stations in the United States, according to the Irish Times.
The official added that the bomber force, including B-1s, B-2s and B-52s, remains able to deliver global strike, including from the continental United States. The Wall Street Journal first reported the withdrawal, and the Jerusalem Post said the Pentagon confirmed it to the paper. The UK Ministry of Defence declined to comment.
At least three of the B-1s had reached their home base in South Dakota by Sunday, according to The New York Times, as cited by NewsNation.
The RAF Fairford Incident So Far
Three suspicious vans were spotted near the military site on Sept. 27, the Irish Times reported. Five British nationals, all in their mid-20s, were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism, and were later bailed. Counter Terrorism Policing said a quantity of petrol but no explosive devices was found in the vans.
A sixth man, a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, the Irish Times reported. Police said on Saturday he had been released on bail.
All six are on bail. Counter Terrorism Policing’s Vicki Evans has called the investigation “hugely complex” and said police are examining all angles, including possible foreign state involvement, according to the Irish Times.
President Donald Trump said earlier in the week that he was “disappointed” the first five were bailed, the Irish Times reported, adding that he assumed those responsible had not watched the case closely.
The Iran Link: What Is and Is Not Established
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said there are “strong indications” that Iran played a part in the incident, the Irish Times reported. Iran has denied involvement, according to NewsNation.
The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. intelligence officials had information about an Iran-linked plot to target bombers and U.S. personnel at Fairford. A senior U.S. official told the paper that an individual linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps recruited British citizens for an operation with several stages and a diversionary action near the base, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The Jerusalem Post noted that British authorities have not adopted the U.S. allegation as an official finding, and that some UK officials have questioned the level of sophistication attributed to the plot. Police have not publicly concluded that Iran was behind the incident. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last Thursday that Israel had passed intelligence on the plot to Britain, the Irish Times reported.
RAF Fairford’s Role in the Iran Campaign
U.S. bombers began using RAF Fairford for strikes on Iran after then–Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed the U.S. to use British bases for “defensive” strikes in March, according to the Irish Times and Al Jazeera. B-1 and B-52 aircraft arrived that month.
Getty Images noted that the number of strategic bombers at the base peaked at between 21 and 23 earlier this year. Around a dozen B-1Bs remained after a late-September drawdown that sent six B-52s home, the same caption said, as cited by NewsNation.
Iran has warned that bases used to launch attacks on its territory could be treated as legitimate targets, NewsNation reported.
FAQ: US Bombers and RAF Fairford
Did the US withdraw all of its bombers from RAF Fairford?
Yes. The Pentagon confirmed on Oct. 4, 2026, that all U.S. bombers deployed there have returned to their home stations in the United States.
Have the suspects been charged?
Not according to the reports reviewed. All six men arrested are on bail while the investigation continues.
Has Iran been confirmed as responsible?
No. Burnham has pointed to strong indications of Iranian involvement and U.S. officials have alleged an IRGC link, but police have not publicly concluded that Iran was behind it, and Iran denies involvement.
Looking Ahead
Watch for any charging decisions in the Counter Terrorism Policing investigation, any official UK finding on foreign state involvement, and whether and when U.S. bombers return to RAF Fairford. The Pentagon has not said whether the withdrawal is temporary.
Sources
- The Irish Times (PA) — US withdraws bombers from RAF Fairford after suspected terror plot
- NewsNation / WJAC — US Air Force pulls B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford amid suspected terror plot probe
- The Jerusalem Post — US pulls all bombers from RAF Fairford air base threatened by alleged Iranian plot
- UPI — Pentagon withdraws all U.S. bombers from Britain’s RAF Fairford
- The Washington Post — U.S. military removes bombers from U.K. base targeted in suspected terror plot
