The US Air Force has withdrawn all 12 B-1 Lancer supersonic heavy bombers deployed at RAF Fairford in the UK and returned them to bases in the United States following intelligence warnings of an Iran-backed plot against the installation. The move occurred after British authorities arrested six suspects over an alleged planned attack targeting the Gloucestershire airbase.The security warning reportedly led to increased defensive measures at other US military installations across Europe. RAF Fairford serves as an important forward operating location for American long-range strike missions, allowing bombers to reduce transit times and deploy with shorter notice.The US Department of Defense confirmed that the aircraft had returned to their respective US bases while stressing that global precision-strike capabilities remain available from the continental United States. Flight-tracking information showed the B-1 fleet leaving Fairford on Sunday, bringing its current operations at the European site to an end.Despite the withdrawal, US officials said B-1 bombers can still conduct global missions from domestic bases. Their aerial-refueling capability allows the aircraft to reach distant operational areas without requiring a permanent forward deployment.
