U.S. moves all long-range bombers from British base, NPR reports
A U.S. official told NPR a dozen B-1 bombers left Royal Air Force base Fairford over a "credible threat" from Iran that may have involved a drone attack.
Key facts
- The U.S. removed all long-range bombers from Royal Air Force base Fairford over the weekend, NPR reported on 7 October 2026.
- A U.S. official not authorized to speak publicly told NPR a dozen B-1 bombers were sent home.
- The official said the decision was due to a "credible threat" from Iran, according to NPR.
- NPR reported the threat potentially involved a drone attack.
- Five men were arrested near the base the previous week in a suspected terror plot, according to NPR.
The U.S. removed all long-range bombers from a British air base over the weekend, NPR reported on 7 October 2026. The base, Royal Air Force base Fairford, is near where five men were arrested the previous week in a suspected terror plot, according to NPR.
A U.S. official who is not authorized to speak publicly told NPR that the decision to send home a dozen B-1 bombers from Royal Air Force base Fairford was due to a "credible threat" from Iran. According to NPR, the threat potentially involved a drone attack.
NPR described the decision as abrupt. NPR identified the official only as a U.S. official not authorized to speak publicly.
Context
Royal Air Force base Fairford is a British air base. According to NPR, five men were arrested near the base in the week before the bombers were moved, in a suspected terror plot.
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