U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the withdrawal of American bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain is not directly linked to the arrest of five people near the base.
“The Department of War is constantly reallocating resources where they are needed. Aircraft rotations are also something normal,” Rubio said.
The Pentagon confirmed that the bombers, including B-1, B-2 and B-52 aircraft, have returned to their bases in the United States.
However, according to U.S. media reports, some of the aircraft departed urgently after new information emerged regarding a potential threat.
On September 27, RAF Fairford was at the center of a suspected terrorist incident, with five British nationals arrested near the base on suspicion of offenses related to explosives and terrorism.
A British-Iranian national was also arrested on October 1.
British authorities have said that the base remains secure.
Meanwhile, the British prime minister had earlier said there were “strong indications” of Iranian involvement in the incident, a claim Tehran has denied.
RAF Fairford is an important hub for U.S. operations in Europe and serves as an advanced base for U.S. Air Force bombers.
