RAF Fairford: Bombers withdrawn due to threat of Iranian drone attack, media report

United States long-range bombers were withdrawn from a military base in Great Britain. US media report the reason: concerns over a possible Iranian drone attack.

Washington. The United States withdrew its long-range bombers from a military base in Great Britain due to fears of a potential Iranian drone attack, according to US media. There were urgent concerns about a possible complex attack, ordered by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, wrote "The Wall Street Journal," citing US and European officials briefed on the matter.

The planned attack was reportedly part of a multifaceted Iranian plot intended to target the aircraft and kill personnel at RAF Fairford, including US pilots.

The news outlet "Axios" also reported, citing US officials, that intelligence information indicating a possible Iranian drone attack prompted the withdrawal of about a dozen B-1 bombers over the weekend.

Trump: Threats were made

US President Donald Trump did not confirm this reason on Monday. When asked by a reporter if there was a danger of Iran bringing combat drones to Great Britain and if that was why the bombers were withdrawn, he replied: "I can't tell you that." He added that if Iran had done so, it would pay a high price.

Without specifying, Trump did mention that threats had been made. "So why would we leave the bombers there? So we moved them a little bit, not very far," the US President said. When pressed by a journalist, he said that the people behind the threat were likely connected to Iran.

Hours earlier, however, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had emphasized that the withdrawal was not directly related to alleged terror threats. "I would not immediately link that to the decision about the relocation," Rubio said. In principle, the relocation was "nothing unusual."

"The New York Times" had already reported on Sunday that new threats against the military base were the reason for the surprise withdrawal of US bombers. There was information about an attack on the base supported by Iran, the newspaper wrote, citing two US officials, without specifying the content of the information.

In March, the US military had deployed additional long-range bombers to Great Britain for greater flexibility in operating against Iran. If these or US soldiers had actually been hit by an Iranian drone attack at the base, it could have led to a significant escalation of the stalled conflict in the Middle East.

Report: Iran's Revolutionary Guard recruited Britons for plot

"The Wall Street Journal" had already reported the previous week, before the bombers' withdrawal, that US officials were aware of a plot linked to Iran aimed at attacking aircraft and personnel at the base. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard was reportedly recruiting British citizens to carry out the plan. It involved several steps, including a diversionary maneuver in the vicinity, the newspaper wrote.

Temporarily detained individuals released under conditions

At the end of September, five men with British citizenship were apprehended near the base. They are suspected of preparing a terrorist act. Investigations are also underway on suspicion of violating explosives laws. They have since been released under strict conditions.

Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham had confirmed indications of a possible connection to Iran after their arrest. US Secretary of State Rubio had spoken of the involvement of a "foreign actor."

A sixth suspect, holding dual Iranian-British citizenship, was also temporarily detained shortly thereafter and then released under conditions.

It is unclear whether the detained individuals were connected to the allegedly planned drone attack or if they were planning a different attack, "Axios" quotes US officials.