US pulls B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford over suspected Iranian drone plot
U. S. officials said a suspected Iranian plan to target RAF Fairford prompted President Donald Trump to order the withdrawal of the United States' B-1 bomber fleet from the British base, and British police detained a 22-year-old man in connection with the investigation. Earlier, British counter-terrorism police arrested five men on explosives and terrorism suspicions near the airfield, prompting evacuations and a bomb-disposal operation. U.
S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested a foreign actor may have been involved, and the British Prime Minister said intelligence pointed to Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israel had warned the UK of an Iranian-backed attack. After the arrests, the five suspects were released on bail while detectives examined possible links to Iran, Russia or non-state groups.