US Withdraws All Bombers from RAF Fairford Base
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US Removes All Bombers from RAF Fairford Back to Home Stations
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: A Rockwell B1 Lancer heavy bomber takes off to depart for home at RAF Fairford on Sunday.
By Cachella Smith
Published 4 October 2026, 22:23 BST
Updated Just now
The US has withdrawn all of its bombers from the British military base at RAF Fairford, located in Gloucestershire, following a counter-terror investigation.
A statement from a US department official confirmed on Sunday the removal of all US bombers from the base back to their home stations in America. The US did not provide a reason for the withdrawal but it comes after a significant incident on 27 September when police responded to reports of three "suspicious vehicles" near the airbase.
Five UK men, aged between 23 and 25, were initially arrested on suspicion of terror offences; they were later released on bail. A sixth man, a UK-Iranian national, was subsequently arrested and also released on bail.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham previously suggested Iran's involvement in the incident, an allegation Tehran has strongly denied.