The US Air Force has withdrawn all of its bombers from a UK air base following a security incident that led to the arrest of five British men and a British-Iranian national last month, a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed to CBS News on Sunday. All US bombers deployed to RAF Fairford have been returned to their bases in the United States, the spokesperson said. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the return of the bombers. “U.S. Air Force bombers routinely operate around the world to support global force readiness and operational requirements,” the Pentagon spokesperson’s statement read. “Airmen operating America’s bomber force, including the B-1, B-2 and B-52, remain ready to deliver precision global strike capabilities, including through operations that launch and recover from the continental United States, anywhere, anytime.” On September 27, five men, all British citizens in their 20s and from London, were arrested on suspicion of explosives and terrorist offenses near RAF Fairford airbase, which has been used by US bombers to attack Iran. Police say they found a quantity of accelerant (gasoline) in three vans linked to the five suspects, but no explosives. The suspects have since been released on bail. A dual British-Iranian national was also later arrested on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack. The 25-year-old man was arrested in London on Thursday and on Saturday Counter Terrorism Police announced he had been released on bail. The British government believes Iran “played a role” in the incident at the air base, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said last week. “There are strong indications that Iran played a role in what occurred over the weekend at RAF Fairford, but of course it remains a serious, complex and ongoing police investigation, and of course we are working closely with our colleagues in the United States of America,” the prime minister told the BBC. Iranian officials have said several times since the start of the war that any base used to attack the country would be considered a legitimate target. But the Iranian embassy in London said in a statement last week that the regime “categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent baseless and malicious speculation published by some British individuals and media outlets that attempt to link Iran” to the incident. Frank Andrews and Tucker Reals contributed to this report. More from CBS News Go deeper with The Free Press in:
