Trump: Iran Threat Prompted B-1 Bomber Evacuation from UK
U.S. pulls bombers from UK amid suspected Iranian drone plot, warns Tehran will ‘suffer greatly’.
2 min read
President Donald Trump announced Monday that a threat tied to Iran led to the sudden evacuation of U.S. B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom. The president warned that Tehran would ‘suffer greatly’ if any combat drone plot involving Iran was confirmed, as intelligence suggests a potential attack on the strategic aircraft and American personnel.
Evacuation Amid Drone Threat
According to reports, the United States rapidly moved approximately a dozen B-1 bombers out of Fairford on Sunday due to urgent concerns about a ‘potentially complex drone attack’ allegedly ordered by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Wall Street Journal cited U.S. and European officials who briefed on the threat, indicating that the move was a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of American personnel.
The drone attack was reportedly one part of a broader Iranian plot to target the base and kill personnel, including U.S. pilots. U.S. military officials in Europe had also been warned in late September about the possibility of a vehicle-borne explosive attack. Axios reported that intelligence pointed to a possible Iranian drone attack launched from British soil, which could have posed a threat to both U.S. personnel and strategic bombers.
White House Response and Cautious Approach
Trump confirmed that the threat prompted the evacuation, stating that the B-1s ‘didn’t fly out by accident.’ He emphasized that the U.S. would ‘capture the enemy and beat the enemy.’ When asked if the threat was linked to Iran, Trump replied, ‘They would be linked to Iran.’ However, he stopped short of confirming the specific intelligence surrounding a possible drone operation, stating, ‘I can’t tell you that, but if they did, they’ll suffer greatly.’
Vice President JD Vance stated that War Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the bombers to be moved ‘out of an abundance of caution’ to protect American personnel as the administration assessed the Iranian threat. Vance said the administration believed ‘with some confidence’ that Iran was continuing its longstanding practice of engaging in terrorism against the U.S. and others, adding that the administration was being ‘extremely cautious.’
International Response and Security Measures
The Pentagon confirmed that all U.S. bombers deployed to Fairford returned to their home stations in the United States, while stressing that the B-1, B-2, and B-52 fleets retain the ability to conduct global precision strikes from American soil. The newly reported drone threat provides the most specific account yet of a security crisis that had placed Fairford on extraordinary alert more than a week earlier.
Before the arrests, Fairford reportedly moved to its highest force-protection level in response to intelligence about a specific and imminent threat, tightening access and dispersing aircraft around the base to make them less vulnerable to attack. Five British nationals were arrested near Fairford as counterterrorism authorities investigated the suspected plot. Police found gasoline in three vans connected to the men, but no viable explosives, and all five were released on bail.
Source: Breitbart
