US pulls B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford due to report of Iran drone plot echoing Ukraine's 'Operation Spiderweb'

The US abruptly withdrew all 12 B-1 Air Force bombers from RAF Fairford in southern England over the weekend after commanders received new information about a potential drone attack ordered by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to US and British officials. The suspected attack was allegedly part of a complex, multipronged plot to strike the aircraft and kill some of the several hundred American personnel stationed at the base.

Some officials believe the plot was loosely modeled on Ukraine's 2025 drone attack on Russian air bases, in which drones smuggled into Russia were launched from semi-trucks to destroy or damage over a dozen aircraft.

President Trump confirmed the threat Monday, telling reporters, "Yeah, I think we can say that. They didn't fly out by accident. There were some threats. And rather than tempting the enemy, we'll capture the enemy and beat the enemy. But why should we leave them there?" He added that Washington "actually knows the people that made the threat" without identifying them.

Vice President JD Vance said the bombers were moved "out of an abundance of caution trying to protect our guys," adding, "We do feel with some confidence that the Iranians are trying to do what the Iranian state has done for 49 years, which is engage in acts of terrorism against the United States and against a lot of other people as well."

The withdrawal came a week after British police arrested five men traveling in white vans near the base on September 27; they were released on bail after no explosives were found, though police said the men remain under investigation. A sixth man, a British-Iranian dual national, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were "strong indications" Iran played a part in the incident, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it "clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor" without elaborating. Rubio, however, downplayed the bomber withdrawal itself, saying it was "not unusual to see movement of assets to different parts of the world based on exercises, redeployments."

According to the New York Times, a senior US official said Israel separately warned Germany that American bases there, particularly Spangdahlem and Ramstein, were at heightened risk. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in July that "any base used to launch attacks on Iranian territory is a legitimate target for our forces."

Tehran has denied involvement in the Fairford plot.