U.S. removes B-1 bombers from U.K. airbase targeted in suspected plot: Pentagon

A U.S. air force crew work on a B-1 bomber at RAF Fairford on Sept. 28. All U.S. bombers at the airbase in England have been redeployed to the U.S., the Pentagon said on Sunday. (Alastair Grant/The Associated Press)Social SharingThe United States removed its B-1 bombers from a U.K. airbase one week after several men were arrested there ‌on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, a Pentagon official said on Sunday.

A dozen B-1 bombers were stationed at RAF Fairford air base, located northwest of London. The ​planes had been used for U.S. strikes on Iran.

"While operational security precluded us from confirming ​the movement of our assets and forces in ⁠real-time, we ⁠can acknowledge now that all ‌U.S. bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have re-deployed to their home stations in the United States," a Pentagon spokesperson wrote in an ⁠email.

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Britain has "strong indications" that Iran was involved in a suspected plot targeting the base, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said ‌on Wednesday.

Iran said accusations linking Tehran to the alleged plan were baseless and summoned the British ambassador in Tehran over the issue.

A U.S. B-1 Lancer bomber takes off from RAF Fairford in England on March 26. (Alastair Grant/The Associated Press)The Wall Street ​Journal first reported that the aircraft were removed from the base ⁠amid security concerns over suspected terror plots against the ⁠facility.

The British government had allowed the U.S. to ⁠use ⁠bombers based at Fairford ​to strike Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in ​the Strait of ⁠Hormuz.

U.S. President Donald Trump said those involved in the plot had planned "big damage," while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also pointed to the "hands of a foreign actor."