Multiple US Air Force B-1 Lancer bombers were seen departing from RAF Fairford in the UK on Tuesday evening, according to reports. The movement comes after President Donald Trump told Lebanese President Joseph Aoun that the US would strike 'Pickaxe Mountain' — a reference to a target in Iran.
Reports that multiple US B-1 Lancer bombers departed RAF Fairford earlier this evening have been linked to President Donald Trump's explicit threat to strike 'Pickaxe Mountain' — a reference to Iran's fortified underground nuclear facility at Mount Pikaks. The movement, first documented at 19:27 Jerusalem, now appears tied to Trump's warning to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, according to the latest reports. The specific mission and destination of the bombers remain unconfirmed.
Initial reports emerged at 19:27 Jerusalem with unverified social media posts showing multiple B-1 bombers departing the UK base. Within the same time window, a second thread version noted the takeoff occurred concurrently with statements by President Trump. A third version, citing analyst Yair Goldblatt, reported that a single B-1 bomber had departed and was believed heading toward the Middle East. The thread thus evolved from scattered social media reports to a cited security analyst, though no official confirmation has been issued.
As The Zioneer reported on June 13, US B-1B and B-52H bombers have been conducting intensive training sorties from RAF Fairford since mid-April, simulating strikes toward the Middle East. More recently, on July 19, The Zioneer reported that US F-35 fighter jets from RAF Lakenheath and aerial tankers were en route to the Middle East — a further sign of the US military buildup in the region.
What remains open: the specific mission and destination of the B-1 bombers have not been officially confirmed by the US military. It is unclear whether the departure is a preparation for a strike or a show of force. No Pentagon or White House statement has been issued as of 19:52 Jerusalem.
5 developments
- DevelopingUS strategic bombers continue intensive training from UK base amid fragile Iran lull
- StrongTrump announces US strikes on Iranian missile depots and radar sites
- DevelopingUS Air Force returning all B-52 bombers from Britain to US, reports say
- ConfirmedMultiple B-52 bombers take off from Diego Garcia toward Iran, reports say
Source and signal
- Internal intake