The United States rapidly withdrew all 12 B-1 bombers from a key air base in England over the weekend after commanders received new warnings about a possible Iran-backed plot targeting the installation, according to U.S. officials. The unusual withdrawal from RAF Fairford was considered so urgent that some bombers and their crews took off for the United States while aerial refueling aircraft were still being scrambled to support their return flights, the New York Times reported. At least three of the bombers had reached their home base in South Dakota by Sunday, officials said.
U.S. European Command confirmed that all American bombers deployed to Fairford were returning home but declined to address the reported threat. “We can acknowledge now that all U.S. bombers that were deployed to R.A.F. Fairford are redeploying to their home stations in the United States,” the command said. “U.S. Air Force bombers routinely operate around the world to support global force readiness and operational requirements.” Officials did not disclose details of the latest intelligence but said it was connected to threat warnings that emerged about three weeks ago. Specific information and the urgency surrounding the threat increased sharply over the past 24 hours, alarming commanders, according to one U.S. official.
