‘Why Leave Them There?’: Trump Says US Pulled Bombers From UK Air Base Over ‘Some Threats’

Last Updated:October 06, 2026, 01:29 IST

The Pentagon confirmed that all US bombers deployed to RAF Fairford had returned to their home stations in the United States.

US Air Force bombers sit on the tarmac at RAF Fairford base in Fairford, south-west England. (AFP photo)

US President Donald Trump said Monday that Washington had withdrawn all B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain after receiving warnings of “some threats”, without giving details about their nature.

“There were some threats, and rather than tempting the enemy — we’ll capture the enemy and beat the enemy, but why should we leave them there? So we moved them around a little bit,” Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that the bombers had been moved “not very far”.

The Pentagon confirmed that all US bombers deployed to RAF Fairford had returned to their home stations in the United States. The move came after a security scare near the base and amid reports of a fresh threat linked to Iran.

Security scare triggers bomber withdrawal

RAF Fairford was placed under heightened security after British police arrested five men near the base on September 27. The arrests followed a report from a local farmer who saw several vans and men acting suspiciously.

Counter-terrorism officers found no explosives in the vehicles but recovered petrol. The suspects were later released on bail as the investigation continued. A sixth man, a British-Iranian dual national, was also arrested and released on bail.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said there were “strong indications” of Iranian involvement, while Tehran has denied any role.

US Vice President JD Vance said the decision to move the bombers was taken out of an “abundance of caution”. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, said there was no confirmed direct link between the withdrawal and the suspected plot.

Fairford’s role in Iran war

RAF Fairford has been a key staging point for US heavy bombers during the conflict with Iran. Its location allows American aircraft to operate closer to the Middle East than they could from bases in the US.

US officials have not publicly detailed the latest threat. The New York Timesciting American officials, reported that commanders had received new warnings about an Iran-backed plot targeting the base.

Iran has previously warned that British bases used to support attacks on Iranian territory could be considered legitimate targets. Tehran has nevertheless rejected allegations that it was behind the suspected plot.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Why did the US withdraw its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain?

President Donald Trump stated that Washington withdrew all B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford after receiving warnings of some threats. The Pentagon confirmed that the aircraft returned to their home stations in the United States following a security scare and reports of a fresh threat linked to Iran.

What security incident occurred near RAF Fairford before the bomber withdrawal?

British police arrested five men near RAF Fairford on September 27 after a local farmer reported seeing suspicious vans. Counter-terrorism officers recovered petrol but no explosives from the vehicles, and the suspects were subsequently released on bail.

How has Iran reacted to the use of British bases by US military aircraft?

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned that British bases used to support attacks on Iranian territory could be considered legitimate targets. While Tehran has denied any role in the recent security plot near RAF Fairford, it has repeatedly cautioned against the UK hosting US military infrastructure.

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