Andy Burnham has insisted that RAF Fairford remains secure after the United States military withdrew its strategic bombers from the Gloucestershire airbase over fresh security concerns.
The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday (4 October) that all U.S. aircraft stationed at the base have been redeployed to their home stations across the Atlantic. The decision follows the arrest of six individuals over the past week in connection with an alleged terror plot targeting the military facility.
Redeployment ordered after threat intelligence
According to reports in The New York Times, U.S. officials stated the redeployment - which involved aircraft previously engaged in strikes against Iran - was ordered after more specific threat intelligence regarding the base came to light over the weekend.
When asked on Monday (5 October) whether RAF Fairford was safe, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman replied directly: "Yes."
Downing Street highlighted earlier assurances from Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, who noted that the UK maintains "tried and tested approaches to defend our bases around the country and throughout the world." The spokesman declined to comment further on "foreign nations' military operations".
Arrests and bail
Mr Burnham previously stated there were "strong indications" of Iranian involvement in the planned attack at RAF Fairford. The airbase has served as a key launchpad for American operations after permission was granted in March for U.S. forces to use British bases for defensive strikes during the Middle East conflict.
The security alert was triggered on September 27, when five British nationals in their mid-20s were arrested near the base. Counter-terrorism police confirmed that while a quantity of petrol was discovered in vans associated with the suspects, no explosive devices were found. A sixth suspect, a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested on October 1. All six individuals have since been released on bail.
Political reaction
The withdrawal of U.S. forces has drawn sharp political reaction both domestically and internationally. In the UK, Liberal Democrat defence spokesman James MacCleary called on the government to "get a grip" on military security, arguing that the U.S. departure raises "serious concerns about security standards" following three base security breaches over the past year.
In the States, President Donald Trump expressed disappointment over the handling of the suspects, telling reporters that British authorities "should not have" released the individuals on bail. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israel had passed intelligence to UK authorities regarding the "Iranian-sponsored attack" shortly before Britain announced a trade ban on illegal West Bank settlements.
In a formal statement, a Pentagon official emphasized that U.S. Air Force bomber operations - including B-1, B-2, and B-52 platforms - remain fully operational and capable of executing global strike missions directly from the continental United States. Counter-terrorism investigations into the incident are ongoing.
