US B-52 Strategic Bombers Withdraw from UK Base, Signaling Easing Tensions in Iran Airstrikes

U.S. Air Force B-52 strategic bombers have withdrawn from a base in the United Kingdom after completing their mission for airstrikes against Iran.

The War Zone (TWZ), a U.S. military specialty media outlet, reported on July 1 (local time) that six B-52 strategic bombers stationed at the Royal Air Force Fairford base departed in two separate groups on that day.

The six B-52s had been deployed to the U.K. in March of this year to support U.S. military airstrike operations against Iran.

Equipped with long-range air-to-surface cruise missiles (JASSM), the B-52s are known to have struck key targets within Iran.

While the U.S. military stated that it had struck a total of 13,000 targets in the war with Iran, it did not disclose how many of those attacks involved the B-52s.

The withdrawal of the B-52s is interpreted as a measure reflecting the easing of tensions following the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.

The U.S. military had deployed the B-52s to the U.K. to reduce flight times and increase the frequency of sorties compared to launching from the U.S. mainland.

Recently, in addition to the B-52s, the U.S. military has been sequentially withdrawing air assets that were reinforced in the Middle East, including A-10 attack aircraft and F-22 and F-15E fighter jets.

Although U.S. President Donald Trump has maintained the position that airstrikes against Iran could resume if negotiations break down, it is understood that he is currently prioritizing a diplomatic solution.

However, some analysts suggest that the withdrawal of the B-52s does not mean a weakening of U.S. bombing capabilities against Iran.

This is because 12 B-1 Lancer strategic bombers remain at the Fairford base, and if necessary, B-52s, B-1s, and B-2 stealth bombers from the U.S. mainland can be deployed for long-range airstrikes against Iran.

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.