The New York Times reports that 12 American heavy bombers were evacuated from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom over the weekend due to fears of an Iranian drone attack. U.S. and British officials cited in the report say the planned attack was allegedly ordered by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The New York Times reported that the United States urgently withdrew 12 B-1 strategic bombers from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom over the weekend, after intelligence indicated an imminent Iranian drone attack orchestrated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). President Trump and Vice President Vance later confirmed the move was prompted by specific threats, with Vance describing the decision as "extremely cautious." The Pentagon stated that all bombers have returned to their home stations.
As The Zioneer reported at 12:40 Monday, British authorities cited "strong indications" of Iranian involvement in the suspected plot. Over the weekend, six individuals were arrested in connection with the investigation, and reports indicated an Iran-linked cell near the base was dealing with explosives before being released on bail. Israeli intelligence also warned Britain of a probable Iranian-sponsored attack, without naming a specific target, and separately warned Germany of heightened risk to U.S. bases there, including Spangdahlem and Ramstein. ITV News, citing a source familiar with the story, reported that U.S. officials feared a drone attack modeled on Ukraine's 2025 "Operation Spider Web" that destroyed 10 Russian aircraft, with concerns that drones may already be in Britain.
The evacuation from a NATO ally's base marks a significant escalation in Iran's efforts to target Western military infrastructure outside the Middle East. The IRGC has previously claimed strikes on U.S. bases in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, as The Zioneer has documented. The urgent withdrawal highlights the perceived reach of Iranian drone technology and covert cells in Europe.
Iran has denied involvement in the plot. It remains unclear whether the United States will redeploy strategic bombers to maintain strike capacity in the European theater, or if RAF Fairford's security posture will be adjusted. The exact nature of the threat that triggered the evacuation has not been officially detailed.
21 developments
- StrongNYT: IRGC planned multi-stage drone attack on US B-1s at UK base, prompting evacuation
- DevelopingIran used drone-swarm tactic from Ukraine to down US F-15E in April, report says
- StrongIran claims complex intelligence plan targeted US aircraft at Bahrain and Kuwait bases
- StrongIranian media publishes footage of army drone strike on US Al-Azraq base in Jordan
Source and signal
- Open-source intake