‘He’s not coming back’: Months after deadly Iranian attack, families of soldiers struggle to cope

On October 5, Reuters reported that the United States had removed its fleet of bombers from the British RAF Fairford airbase a week after the arrest of five men suspected of preparing terrorist acts as part of a plot possibly linked to Iran. The arrests occurred on September 27 near the base, which lies about 90 miles west of London.

Police were alerted by a local farmer who noticed three large white vans and masked men running into a field. The five suspects, all British nationals aged 23 to 25, were initially arrested on suspicion of explosives offenses and later on suspicion of terrorist preparation. They were released on bail a day later. US President Donald Trump stated that the perpetrators planned to inflict significant damage, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attributed the plot to a foreign actor.

In July, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had suggested the base could be a legitimate target for attack. British counter-terrorism police later indicated they were investigating the possibility of foreign involvement, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggesting an Iranian connection. A 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national was subsequently arrested in London, as part of a complex investigation.

A week after the initial arrests, all US bombers at RAF Fairford had returned to their home stations in the US, though the reason for their departure was not disclosed. A NATO military source noted that Iran remained a significant threat to US assets in the UK. Iran denied involvement in the plot and summoned the British ambassador in Tehran over the matter.

Counter-terrorism police stated that the investigation was complex, with no explosive devices found but a quantity of petrol recovered from the suspects' vehicles. The five men detained were later released on bail.