The US has recalled all of its B1-B Bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire where they have been using them to carry out operations in the Iran conflict.
The Pentagon did not give a reason for the end of the deployment, which at its height saw B1-B Lancer and B52 long range bombers operating daily, but it comes days after an alleged terror plot may have been foiled by a local farmer that led to multiple men being arrested.
RAF Fairford is the United States Air Force’s (USAF) only Forward Operating Location (FOL) for long range bombers in the UK and is staffed permanently by the 501st Combat Support Wing, a unit that had a notorious previous incarnation as the 501st Tactical Missile Wing operating nuclear armed Ground Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCMs) from RAF Greenham Common.
It is unclear whether the the redeployment back to the US signals a wind down of hostilities against Iran or whether the US Government is concerned about security at the Gloucestershire base however US Secretary of State Marco Rubio did say he didn’t say he wouldn’t directly tie it to the arrests.
He said: “The Department of War is constantly reallocating resources where they need to be. There’s regular rotations that happen as well” adding “We’ve documented what happened last week. I wouldn’t directly tie that to the move that was made.”
RAF Fairford sess regular bomber deployments for training exercises and NATO shows of force and is also home too the Royal International Air Tattoo, although the 2026 event was cancelled due to the Iran bombing operations.
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