US Bombers Evacuated from UK Base Amid Specific Iran Threat

U.S. President Donald Trump revealed on Monday that a specific threat linked to Iran prompted the urgent evacuation of B1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain. The bombers have been returned to the United States. Trump, speaking to reporters before departing for Nebraska, also reiterated his openness to direct talks with Iran. He suggested that Iran was connected to an attempted hijacking of a Flydubai plane.

American officials informed The Wall Street Journal that the U.S. military removed all B1 bombers from the British airbase due to security concerns following a recent terror attack attempt. This move signifies a shift in U.S. strategy, as the base had been used as a staging point for operations against Iran. Previously, more than ten B1 bombers were stationed at Fairford.

According to The New York Times, the evacuation occurred with unusual speed over the weekend after U.S. commanders received new intelligence about an Iran-backed plot targeting the base. The urgency was so high that some bombers and their crews departed for the U.S. while aerial refueling planes were still being prepared. An American official told the Times that the intelligence was part of warnings received about three weeks prior, but the urgency escalated significantly in the 24 hours before the evacuation.

While U.S. officials declined to specify the details of the intelligence, assessments suggest it involved an Iran-backed plot against the base. The U.S., Britain, Germany, and Israel believe the plot is connected to Iran's Revolutionary Guards or another military command in Tehran. Iran has denied these accusations.