Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, announced on Monday that the departure of American bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain has no direct connection to a suspicious plan related to Iran that was reported at this base last week.
Details of the Bombers' Departure
The B1 bombers, which are normally stationed at RAF Fairford, had recently been used in military operations against Iran. Last week, five British men were arrested near this base, which had been identified as a legitimate target by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, on charges of preparing terrorist acts. In response to a question about the B1 bombers, Rubio said, "I cannot directly link this to the action that was taken. The Department of Defense continuously allocates resources where necessary."
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Threat Analysis and Consequences
A NATO military source stated on Monday that Iran is still believed to be a serious threat to U.S. interests in Britain. While the details of this incident are not yet fully clear, Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister of Britain, emphasized that any plan was likely supported by Iran. In contrast, Iran has dismissed these accusations as baseless, and Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, stated that his country had no involvement in such a plan.
The U.S. Secretary of State also expressed confidence that the security of all U.S. bases is at a high level. RAF Fairford, located 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of London, is recognized as one of the important bases in Europe for U.S. bombers and has played a key role in U.S. military operations in the Middle East in the past.
During the current conflicts, the United States was only allowed to use this base for attacks on Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. London has responded negatively to U.S. requests to use British bases for offensive attacks against Iran. This approach has strained relations between the United States and Britain, which is usually considered one of Washington's closest allies.
A Pentagon official confirmed on Sunday that all bombers stationed at Fairford have returned to their main bases in the United States. The Pentagon also stated that the U.S. bomber force remains ready to provide global strike capabilities "anytime and anywhere."
However, some military analysts believe that the relocation of the bombers may temporarily reduce the U.S. capacity for rapid strikes against Iran. These experts have also noted that the use of Fairford is currently limited due to London's restrictions on offensive attacks.
In the early hours of September 27, five British men in their 20s were arrested after being seen running towards fields from three white vans parked near the base. The police also announced that no explosive devices were found, but some gasoline was present at the scene. These men have since been released on bail.
A senior NATO official also stated that the departure of the bombers will not affect the alliance and emphasized that "NATO's defensive agility remains unchanged against any aggression."
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