President Donald Trump confirmed that the United States relocated a squadron of B‑1 bombers out of RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire after receiving a threat, though he offered no specifics about its source or nature. The Pentagon had earlier verified that about a dozen B‑1s were withdrawn from the base and redeployed to U.S. bases. During a press briefing before traveling to Nebraska, Trump was asked whether a particular threat had triggered the move; he replied that there had been "some threats" and that the aircraft were not withdrawn by accident. He added that Washington "actually knows the people that made the threat," without naming any individuals or groups.

The timing of the relocation coincides with a police alert on 27 September concerning three suspicious vehicles near the airbase. British counter‑terrorism authorities subsequently arrested six men, all later released on bail, in connection with the incident. No official link between the arrests and the bomber withdrawal has been established.

Defense Secretary Marco Rubio, speaking earlier on Monday, described the movement as routine asset rotation and declined to tie it directly to the Fairford incident. Vice President J.D. Vance later characterized the decision as an "abundance of caution," citing Iran’s long‑standing pattern of hostile actions against U.S. interests. Iranian officials have denied involvement and warned that any base used for aggression against Iran would be a legitimate target.

RAF Fairford, a Royal Air Force station used by the U.S. Air Force for decades, has recently hosted B‑1 and B‑52 bombers for operations in the Middle East, following a UK‑approved request for defensive strikes against Iran. Analysts note that the redeployment reduces the United States’ capacity to launch rapid sorties against Iran, though the base’s use has already been limited to defensive missions. Potential alternative locations for the aircraft include Diego Garcia or Gulf region bases, contingent on logistical and diplomatic factors.

The precise threat that prompted the relocation remains unspecified, and the incident continues to be investigated by UK counter‑terrorism police.