'Threats' led US to pull bombers from UK base, Trump says

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States had withdrawn all B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford, a British airbase previously used for strikes on Iran. The decision came after unspecified threats were received, which Trump believed were linked to Iran. Although the British government insisted that the base remained secure, speculation surrounding the incident has been rampant.

On September 27, police were called to the base in southwest England after a local farmer reported a group of men with several vans exhibiting suspicious behavior. Despite a major counter-terrorism investigation, five suspects were later released on bail, and while petrol was recovered, no explosives were found. The arrested men's involvement in the incident remains uncertain.

Trump declined to comment on reports suggesting that the threat involved attack drones, stating, "I can't tell you that, but if they did they'll suffer greatly." He did, however, claim to know the identities of those responsible, adding that they are linked to Iran.

The Pentagon confirmed the redeployment of the B-1 bombers to their home stations in the United States, noting that operational security prevented real-time confirmation of the movement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed confidence in the security of all US bases, emphasizing that they have built-in robust security measures. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman confirmed the base's safety, stating that they have "tried and tested approaches" to defend their bases worldwide.

The incident has sparked various speculations, ranging from a terror threat to fuel theft, as energy prices in the UK have recently reached record highs. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has claimed strong indications that Iran played a role in the incident, a claim rejected by Iran's embassy in London. British media reported that officers were alerted about the incident by one of the arrested men, although police have not commented on this report.