US withdraws all bombers from UK’s Fairford base amid security concerns
The United States has withdrawn all its bombers from RAF Fairford in the UK after several men were arrested on suspicion of planning ‘terrorist acts’
The United States has withdrawn all its bombers from RAF Fairford in the UK after several men were arrested on suspicion of planning ‘terrorist acts’ near the base. The men were later released on bail, and a legal expert said that if counter-terrorism police believed they posed such a threat, they would still be in custody.
The base hosted American B-52 and B-1 bombers, which the US used to strike Iran during the war. The warplanes have been moved back to the US after Washington decided it was not secure enough to keep them at Fairford. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said RAF Fairford is safe, but the base has fallen quiet, with no US bombers present.
The relocation could make President Donald Trump's Operation Epic Fury against Iran more logistically complicated, as RAF Fairford is about 4,000km closer to Iran than the bombers' US
home bases. Al Jazeera’s Camille Nedelec reports from RAF Fairford airbase in the UK. Find us on Check our website Check out our Instagram page Download AJE Mobile App