The United States withdrew 12 B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain on Sunday amid intelligence warnings of a suspected Iranian Revolutionary Guard plot to attack the aircraft and kill American military personnel stationed at the base.

According to American and British officials cited in published reports, the concerns involved a complex, multistage operation rather than a general threat. The suspected plan reportedly included a cell recruiting British nationals to carry out attacks involving drones, alongside concerns raised in late September about possible explosives in vehicles near the installation.

Officials said the potential targets included the American bombers and some of the hundreds of U.S. service members deployed at Fairford.

Vice President JD Vance confirmed that the aircraft were withdrawn as a precaution to protect American personnel. He also accused Iran’s regime of continuing its longstanding support for terrorism against the United States and other countries.

President Donald Trump said he knew about the threats and was unwilling to leave the aircraft at the base. He also criticized Britain’s decision to release suspects arrested near the installation on bail after fuel containers were found in their possession.

British authorities have been investigating five men who reportedly approached the base in vans carrying fuel containers, along with a sixth suspect holding dual British-Iranian citizenship. Those six suspects were released on police bail and remain under investigation.

Counterterrorism police arrested a seventh suspect, a 22-year-old man, in London on Tuesday in connection with the investigation.

Despite the intelligence concerns, some British officials have questioned whether there is evidence that Iran could execute an operation of that complexity inside the United Kingdom. Military experts have warned that even a partially successful attack on the bombers would deliver a significant blow to the United States.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio played down the significance of the aircraft movements, saying that relocating military planes around the world is not unusual and expressing confidence in security at American bases.

The Pentagon confirmed that the bombers had returned to their home stations in the United States but declined to discuss details of the suspected plot.

Officials said a central concern was that the planned attack could draw inspiration from Ukraine’s operation against Russian air bases last year. In that attack, drones concealed in trucks were transported deep into Russian territory and used to strike aircraft, including strategic bombers.

The intelligence warnings reportedly prompted the decision to bring the American bomber fleet home while British authorities continued their investigation.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)