UK government maintains RAF Fairford is secure following US bomber redeployment
Downing Street has stated that the RAF Fairford base remains safe after the US military redeployed its B-1 bombers. While the BBC reports the withdrawal followed an incident near the base, The Guardian notes the move was made amid concerns regarding a potential threat from Iran.
First reported 2 hours ago · latest update 1 hour ago
The newspaper wrote that the new information was part of the same threat warnings from three weeks ago, but officials acted quickly after specific details emerged in the past 24 hours.
Ezra Cohen, who served as a defence official under Trump's first administration, called the US' decision "prudent".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "These are very, very unique platforms that aren't being produced anymore, and we have a limited number of them. The B-1 bomber is a strategic asset, and we're going to take steps to protect it from all sorts of threats."
Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson James MacCleary called the US' decision to withdraw its bombers "deeply concerning" and called for the government to set out a plan to ensure the country's military bases are "fit for purpose".
Days after the incident at RAF Fairford, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were "strong indications" that Iran had played a part in the incident but did not provide further details, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Fox News that it "clearly involve[d] the hands of a foreign actor" without going into further details.
Tehran has strongly denied any involvement.
In July, Iran said "any base used for aggression against Iranian territory constitutes a legitimate target for our forces".
RAF Fairford, near the village of Whelford in the Cotswolds, has been used as a forward operating location by the USAF for decades.
In recent months, the US has flown B-1 and B-52 bombers from the base for the Middle East, after the UK approved a US request to use it for defensive strikes on Iran.
Residents living close to RAF Fairford told the BBC of their relief at the departure of bombers from the airbase, with one local saying she was "thrilled," citing the noise and feeling "increasingly vulnerable" in recent weeks.
Another villager, who said he has seen bombs being loaded aboard aircraft from his back garden, said he knew something was happening when he saw planes leaving "one, after another, after another" on Sunday.
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No10 insists UK military base RAF Fairford is safe after US withdraws bombers
US media reported a new threat led to the bombers being removed on Sunday, following an incident near the base last week.
2 hours agoNo 10 insists RAF Fairford is safe after US withdraws its bombers from base
A dozen B-1 bombers stationed at Gloucestershire base were redeployed to US on Sunday amid concerns over possible threat from IranDowning Street has insisted RAF Fairford is secure a day after the US air force suddenly withdrew a dozen B-1 bombers that had been stationed at the Gloucestershire base amid security concerns about a possible threat from Iran.The prime minister’s official spokesperson, speaking during a scheduled briefing, said “yes” when asked if the military site was safe – contrasting with the concern showed by the US military during the hasty redeployment the day before. Conti…
1 hour ago · Dan Sabbagh and Aletha Adu