WASHINGTON — On Monday, October 5, 2026, US President Donald Trump confirmed that the United States pulled its B-1 bombers out of RAF Fairford in Britain because of threats, telling reporters at the White House: "There were some threats." Pressed on the sudden weekend withdrawal of the aircraft, he added: "They didn't fly out by accident." When asked whether the people behind the threat were linked to Iran, Trump replied: "They would be linked to Iran."
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What Trump said
Trump spoke to reporters on the White House South Lawn on Monday before boarding Marine One for Nebraska. Asked whether the bombers had been moved in response to a threat, he said: "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 keep them there? So we moved them around a little bit, not very far."
"We actually know the people that made the threat," Trump added. Asked whether they were linked to Iran, he replied: "They would be linked to Iran." On reports of attack drones smuggled into Britain, he said: "I can't tell you that but if they did they'll suffer greatly."
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The weekend withdrawal
The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday, October 4, that around a dozen B-1s had left RAF Fairford for US home stations — and Trump's remarks were the first direct confirmation the move was threat-driven, not a routine rotation.
Vance cites caution; Rubio plays it down
Vice President JD Vance called the move an "abundance of caution" to protect US personnel, saying Washington feels "with some confidence" that Iran engages in terrorism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio played it down: no direct link to the suspected plot, with the Pentagon "constantly reallocating resources where they need to be."
The alleged drone plot
The Wall Street Journal reported that a branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) recruited British citizens for a complex drone attack meant to kill American pilots and damage aircraft — involving a diversion nearby and drones swarming the airfield.
The reports followed a September 27 incident: police were called over "suspicious" activity near the base after a farmer reported men with several vans. Five men arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences were later bailed, as was a sixth — a dual UK-Iranian national arrested days later. No explosives were found, but police recovered "a quantity of petrol."
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Britain and Iran respond
Downing Street said RAF Fairford is safe, and the UK government declined to comment on US operational decisions. Iran denied involvement; Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi called the accusations baseless: "You're barking up the wrong tree."
Why RAF Fairford matters
RAF Fairford is the preferred European base for US bombers and was used to launch US strikes on Tehran earlier this year, during the US-Israel-Iran war that began on February 28. The withdrawal comes as Washington keeps pressing Tehran over its missiles and regional activities.
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Timeline of events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Police respond to "suspicious vehicles" near RAF Fairford; five men arrested, later bailed |
| Early Oct 2026 | Sixth man, a dual UK-Iranian national, also arrested and bailed. No explosives found; police recover "a quantity of petrol" |
| Oct 4, 2026 | Pentagon confirms about a dozen B-1 bombers removed from RAF Fairford and returned to US home stations |
| Oct 5, 2026 | Trump cites "some threats" linked to Iran; Vance cites "abundance of caution"; Rubio plays down link; Iran denies involvement |
Key Takeaways
- On October 5, 2026, Donald Trump confirmed the B-1 withdrawal from RAF Fairford was caused by threats: "They didn't fly out by accident."
- Trump linked the threat to Iran: "They would be linked to Iran" — and said "We actually know the people that made the threat."
- The Pentagon confirmed on October 4 that about a dozen B-1s left the base for US home stations.
- The Wall Street Journal reported an alleged IRGC-backed drone-attack plot using recruited British citizens.
- Six men arrested near the base were all bailed; no explosives were found, but police recovered "a quantity of petrol."
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the US move its B-1 bombers out of RAF Fairford?
President Donald Trump said on October 5, 2026, that the bombers were withdrawn because of threats. "There were some threats," he told reporters, adding: "They didn't fly out by accident." The Pentagon confirmed on October 4 that around a dozen B-1 aircraft left the base for home stations in the United States.
What exactly did Trump say about the threat?
Trump said: "There were some threats." / "They didn't fly out by accident." / "And rather than tempting the enemy — we'll capture the enemy and beat the enemy, but why should we leave them there?" He added: "We actually know the people that made the threat."
Did Trump blame Iran for the threat?
Asked whether the people behind the threat were linked to Iran, Trump answered: "They would be linked to Iran," presenting no public evidence. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied involvement, calling the accusations baseless: "You're barking up the wrong tree."
What happened near RAF Fairford on September 27?
Police were called after a farmer reported men with several vans in "suspicious" activity near the base. Five men arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences were later bailed, as was a sixth — a dual UK-Iranian national. No explosives were found, but officers recovered "a quantity of petrol."
What did JD Vance and Marco Rubio say?
Vice President JD Vance said the move was an "abundance of caution" to protect US personnel, voicing confidence Iran engages in terrorism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio played it down: no direct link to the suspected plot, and the Pentagon is "constantly reallocating resources."
Why is RAF Fairford important?
RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire is the preferred European base for US bombers. The United States used it to launch strikes on Tehran earlier this year during the war between the United States, Israel and Iran — making it a high-value, closely watched site.