Chronological coverage updated 4th October 2026 22:57.
Update 1 · 4th October 2026
US Withdraws Bomber Fleet From RAF Fairford Following Counter-Terror Investigation
The United States military has pulled all of its heavy bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, returning the aircraft to their home stations in the US. The decision was made at an operational military level and communicated directly to British defense officials, following a major security alert near the strategic airbase.
All US Air Force heavy bombers stationed at RAF Fairford were recalled to the United States following a security incident on September 27..
Security incident and arrests
Counter-terror police launched an investigation on September 27 after officers were alerted to three suspicious vehicles traveling towards the airbase in the early hours. Police initially arrested five UK nationals from London, aged between 23 and 25, on suspicion of explosives offences and preparing a terrorist act. A sixth suspect, a 25-year-old UK-Iranian national, was subsequently arrested in London.
All six men were later released on police bail in what law enforcement described as an investigative decision grounded in strategy and experience. UK government sources have not disputed that Washington's operational withdrawal was prompted by the Fairford incident.
Diplomatic tensions and strategic background
RAF Fairford has long served as a key forward operating base for the US Air Force, with heavy bombers recently deploying from the site for defensive strikes in the Middle East following UK authorization. Following the security incident, political figures in the UK and US highlighted potential foreign involvement, pointing towards potential Iranian links, though official sources in Tehran strongly denied any connection.
BBC News reportedly quoted Donald Trump (US President) as saying: “We know everything about them, we would not have released them”.
US officials expressed concern over the decision to release the suspects on bail, while emphasizing that counter-terrorism authorities from both nations continue to collaborate closely on the ongoing investigation.
- US Air Force heavy bombers have been completely withdrawn from RAF Fairford back to American home stations.
- Six suspects arrested in connection with the counter-terrorism investigation near the base remain on police bail.
- The military withdrawal was taken at an operational level by US commanders following security assessments.