The U.S. Air Force has redeployed its bombers from a military air base in England, RAF Fairford, after an investigation into a suspected terror attack. A Pentagon official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the bombers were returned to their home bases in the United States.
The Military Air Tracking Alliance reported that numerous B-52 and B-1 bombers have been operating from RAF Fairford since the onset of the conflict with Iran. Observers noted that several B-1 bombers departed from the base on Sunday.
This decision coincides with President Donald Trump's considerations regarding military action against Iran, despite earlier assurances that the conflict would be brief. Trump stated, "We have decisions that I'll make about Iran. Iran's been decimated. So the only question is — it'll either be the easy way, or the hard way," during a press conference on Saturday.
Last week, a dual British-Iranian national was arrested in London on suspicion of planning a terror attack linked to a security incident at RAF Fairford in late September. Six individuals have been detained and subsequently released on bail during the ongoing investigation.
British authorities have associated the incident with Tehran, which has denied any involvement. RAF Fairford, located 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of London, has historically been utilized by American bombers in various Middle Eastern conflicts.
Additionally, the U.S. military continues to maintain a significant presence in the Middle East. A U.S. official indicated that the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and the USS Malkin Island amphibious readiness group, which together carry over 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines, are being deployed to the region. This could result in three aircraft carriers being present in the area by the end of October.