‘Iran-linked terror plot’ behind US bomber evacuation – NYT
The US has rushed to withdraw bombers from an airbase in the UK after receiving new threat information about an alleged terrorist plot against the facility, the New York Times reports, citing sources.
The announcement cited by the NYT comes a week after five men were arrested in what was trumpeted as a high-level security operation near RAF Fairford, which hosts US bombers used in the war against Iran. However, after a hysterical media reaction in the UK, the five, all British citizens in their early 20s, were released on bail the following day.
Days later, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham claimed that London had “strong indications” that Iran could have been behind the incident, which only came to life after a local farmer called the police, having seen a group of men run from their white vans on a country road when caught in the headlights of her car.
All 12 US Air Force B-1 bombers were withdrawn over the weekend, allegedly after commanders received new warnings concerning a possible Iranian-backed plot against the base, two anonymous US officials told the NYT on Sunday.
Some aircraft had reportedly only arrived the week before as part of a routine rotation. According to the NYT’s sources, the withdrawal was deemed so urgent that several bombers took off without aerial refueling support. At least three bombers reached their home base in South Dakota by Sunday, the officials said.
According to one source, the information was connected to threat warnings that surfaced three weeks earlier, but new details received over the preceding 24 hours alarmed commanders and increased the urgency of withdrawing the bombers. The details were not disclosed.
The Pentagon’s European Command confirmed that the aircraft left England but declined to comment on any new warnings.
“We can acknowledge now that all US bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford are redeploying to their home stations in the United States,” the command said in a statement. “US Air Force bombers routinely operate around the world to support global force readiness and operational requirements.”
Iran has denied having any involvement. The embassy in London accused Britain of promoting “Iranophobia.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected Burnham’s allegation, saying he is “barking up the wrong tree.”
