Donald Trump has confirmed there were "some threats" behind the United States' decision to withdraw bombers from a UK base. The US president revealed the military aircraft "didn't fly out by accident" from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
President's remarks on the redeployment
Previously, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had attempted to downplay the removal of the planes amid speculation the action was connected to security fears. The senior diplomat refused to connect the departure of the jets to a recent suspected terror plot targeting the base.
However, when questioned as he departed the White House on Monday about whether the planes had been relocated due to a threat, Mr Trump responded: "Yeah, I think we can say that. They didn't fly out by accident."
Details of the threat
"No, but 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," he continued. "We actually know the people who made the threat."
US Vice President JD Vance stated the planes had been repositioned "out of an abundance of caution, trying to protect our guys". Speaking as he departed Washington for Alaska, he said: "We do feel with some confidence that the Iranians are, you know, they're trying to do what the Iranian state has done for 49 years, which is engaged in acts of terrorism against the United States (and others), so we are being extremely cautious, and that's all I'd say about that."
Rubio's stance and the investigation
However, Mr Rubio stated he "wouldn't directly tie" the relocation of the aircraft to the recent alert close to the base. He continued: "It's not unusual to see movement of assets to different parts of the world based on exercises, redeployments, people changing out and new people coming in, new planes coming in and old planes going out."
Six individuals have been detained over the past week in relation to a suspected plot targeting RAF Fairford, which had been accommodating US bombers involved in strikes against Iran.
The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that the aircraft previously stationed at the base had been "redeployed to their home stations in the United States", while emphasising the US Air Force maintained its capability to conduct operations "anywhere, any time". American officials informed The New York Times the withdrawal of the bombers had been directed following more specific details about threats to the base that surfaced over the weekend.
On Monday, Downing Street refused to provide comment on the departure of US bombers but insisted RAF Fairford was safe.
