"US Withdraws 12 B-1 Bombers from UK Air Base Over Potential Iranian Drone Attack Threat"

The United States has reportedly made an emergency withdrawal of 12 B-1 strategic bombers deployed to a British Royal Air Force base out of concern over a potential Iranian drone attack.

Citing U.S. and British officials, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 6th local time that the U.S. military returned all 12 B-1 bombers stationed at Fairford Air Base in Gloucestershire, England, back to the United States over the weekend.

U.S. authorities reportedly ordered the withdrawal of the bombers after receiving intelligence that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was planning a drone attack targeting the Fairford base.

Officials stated that the drone attack was part of a multi-faceted Iranian plot aimed at striking military aircraft on the base and killing personnel, including U.S. pilots.

Fairford Air Base serves as one of the key European hubs utilized by the U.S. Air Force for military operations concerning Iran.

The WSJ reported that a faction within the IRGC had recruited British nationals to carry out the attack, and that the multi-stage plot included diversionary operations in the surrounding area.

Some U.S. officials believe the plot was modeled after an operation last year in which Ukraine smuggled drones deep into Russian territory and launched them from trucks to strike nuclear-capable Russian strategic bombers, according to the NYT.

Vice President JD Vance remarked the previous day regarding the withdrawal of the strategic bombers, calling it "an abundance of caution to protect our forces."

While avoiding specific comments on the possibility of an Iranian drone attack, Vance stated with a high degree of confidence that Iran is attempting acts of terror against the United States and many others.

The U.S. Department of Defense declined to comment on the alleged Iranian attack plot, but confirmed that all strategic bombers at the Fairford base have returned to the United States.

The U.S. military was reportedly briefed late last month on the possibility of an attack utilizing vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in addition to drones.

Previously, on September 27 near the Fairford base, five masked men traveling from London in a van carrying fuel containers were discovered and arrested by British police on suspicion of plotting terrorist acts.

They were subsequently released on bail and have not yet been charged.

The British government maintains that there is strong circumstantial evidence linking them to Iran, though it has not disclosed specific details.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.