Iran Planned Drone Attack on US Bombers in UK, NYT Reports

The United States evacuated 12 B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in the UK due to an "specific threat" linked to Iran, according to a New York Times report. The decision to rapidly remove the aircraft and their crews was prompted by new intelligence indicating a complex Iranian plot, orchestrated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to attack the bombers with drones and potentially kill American military personnel stationed at the base. U.S. officials described the plot as multi-pronged and serious enough to warrant the unusual measure of withdrawing all bombers to the United States.

President Donald Trump confirmed the evacuation was not accidental, stating there were "threats" and questioning why the planes would be left there, linking the danger to Iran. The urgency was so high that some bombers and aircrews were already en route to the U.S. while aerial refueling aircraft were still being prepared. This swift removal from an allied base, far from any active combat zone, is considered highly exceptional.

U.S. and British sources suggested the Iranian plan may have drawn inspiration from Ukraine's "Operation Spider Web" in June 2025, where drones infiltrated Russian airspace and struck military bases. The concern was that Iran might employ a similar tactic, using drones to target the bombers on the ground at Fairford rather than confronting the base's defenses directly.

RAF Fairford holds particular significance for the U.S. Air Force, having been used during the war against Iran, and has been previously mentioned by Tehran as a potential target. In July, the Revolutionary Guard warned that using the base for attacks against Iran would make Britain complicit and that any base from which attacks originated could be considered a legitimate target.

Vice President J.D. Vance stated the Pentagon moved the bombers out of "an abundance of caution" to protect U.S. forces, accusing Iran of continued plotting against the U.S. without detailing the specific intelligence. The evacuation followed a week of unusual incidents near the base, including the arrest of five men near RAF Fairford on September 27th, which led to a security operation and the temporary evacuation of local homes. A 25-year-old dual British-Iranian citizen was later arrested in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts related to the base incidents.

U.S., British, German, and Israeli sources believe the activity is linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard or other military commands, though Iran has denied the allegations. Intelligence warnings about the risk to Fairford had been circulating since mid-September, with Israel also reportedly warning Germany about increased risks to U.S. bases on its territory, including Ramstein and Spangdahlem.