The United States has redeployed its heavy bombers from a Royal Air Force base in the United Kingdom amid an investigation into an alleged plot targeting the facility.
At least 12 aircraft, including B-1 bombers, have been moved from RAF Fairford back to the United States, according to the Pentagon.
A US Defence Department official said on Sunday that the aircraft had returned to their home stations, but declined to provide details about when the redeployment occurred or the specific reasons behind it.
“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,” the official said.
However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the redeployment should not necessarily be linked to the suspected plot, describing the movement as part of a regular rotation of military assets.
Rubio said such movements were routine and could be prompted by exercises, redeployments or the rotation of personnel and aircraft.
The Pentagon’s announcement came after five men were arrested last month on terrorism-related charges near RAF Fairford.
The suspects were arrested in possession of three vans in the village of Whelford, about two miles from the base, which hosts US Air Force operations and has served as an important hub for American military activities involving Iran since February.
The suspects were subsequently released on bail following what authorities described as extensive interviews.
No charges have been brought against them, and British counter-terrorism authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK, said the suspects remained under investigation as authorities pursued several lines of inquiry.
Former Prime Minister Andy Burnham told BBC News in late September that there were “strong indications” Iran had played a role in the incident.
Iran has not been established as responsible for the suspected plot.
The US Defence Department said its bomber fleet routinely operates from different locations around the world as part of efforts to maintain military readiness and meet operational requirements.
It added that crews operating B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers remained prepared to conduct long-range precision strike missions, including operations launched from and recovered at bases in the continental United States.
