Donald Trump says 'a specific threat' saw US withdraw its bombers from RAF Fairford after 'foiled terror plot'

Donald Trump has said that a 'specific threat' prompted the United States to withdraw its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford following an alleged foiled terror plot. 

The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that aircraft which were being stationed at the Gloucestershire base had been 'redeployed to their home stations in the US'. 

It came after the arrests of six individuals over the past week in connection with a suspected terror plot targeting the base. 

President Trump has now said that the bombers 'didn't fly out by accident' and left due to a 'threat' - despite Secretary of State Marco Rubio playing down the redeployment only hours earlier. 

Trump told reporters while leaving the White House on Monday: 'There were some threats and, rather than tempting the enemy, we'll capture the enemy and beat the enemy.

'Why should we leave them [the aircraft] there? So we moved them around a little bit, not very far.'   

Rubio had insisted earlier on Monday that the country's decision to remove its bombers was not 'directly tied' to last week's incident in Gloucestershire. 

He said: 'I wouldn't directly tie that [the incident at RAF Fairford] to the move which was made.

President Donald Trump is pictured boarding Air Force One after speaking to reporters on Monday

B-1 bombers take off as they depart for home at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Sunday

'It's not unusual to see rotations happen and movement of assets to different parts of the world based on exercises and redeployment.

'We have confidence in the security of all of our bases. All of our bases theoretically could be threatened at any moment, and that's why there's so much security built around them.

'With the Brits we've worked very closely for a very long time, including on this investigation, and they couldn't be more cooperative.' 

US officials told the New York Times the redeployment of the bombers, which have been involved in carrying out strikes on Iran, had been ordered after more specific details about threats to the base emerged over the weekend.

Asked today whether RAF Fairford was safe, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Yes.'

He also pointed to comments by Defence Secretary Wes Streeting saying there were 'tried and tested approaches to defend our bases around the country and throughout the world', but he declined to comment further on 'foreign nations' military operations'.

But, speaking as he left Washington for Alaska today, US Vice President JD Vance insisted the US was 'just trying to protect our guys' by redeploying its bombers.

He said: 'We do feel with some confidence that the Iranians are trying to do what the Iranian state has done for 49 years, which is engage in acts of terrorism against the United States (and others), so we are being extremely cautious.' 

The five British nationals, all in their mid-20s, arrested near the base on September 27 have since been released on bail.

A sixth man, a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national, arrested on October 1, has also been released on bail.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said last week there were 'strong indications' that Iran played a part in the incident.

A Pentagon official said on Sunday: 'US Air Force bombers routinely operate around the world to support global force readiness and operational requirements.

JD Vance insisted the US was just 'trying to protect our guys' by withdrawing its bombers from RAF Fairford 

The five British men are arrested near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire early on September 27

Three white vans are investigated by a robot after the alleged plot near RAF Fairford

'While operational security precluded us from confirming the movement of our assets and forces in real time, we can acknowledge now that all US bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have redeployed to their home stations in the United States.

'The airmen that operate America's bomber force, including B-1s, B-2s, and B-52s, remain ready to deliver precision global strike capabilities – including through operations that launch and recover from the continental United States – anywhere, anytime.'

The Liberal Democrats urged the Government to 'get a grip' on security at military bases in the wake of the US withdrawal, saying the move raised 'serious concerns about security standards'.

Lib Dem defence spokesman James MacCleary said: 'With three bases breached in the past year alone, this is not something the Defence Secretary, or the country, can afford to ignore.' 

US bombers have been stationed at RAF Fairford in recent months after former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer granted Washington permission to use British bases for 'defensive' strikes against Tehran during the Middle East war.

Counter-terror police have said a quantity of petrol but no explosive devices were found in the vans that sparked the security alert.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israel had handed Britain intelligence about the suspected terror plot.

Mr Netanyahu said his country warned UK authorities about the 'Iranian-sponsored attack' shortly before Britain's announcement of a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Earlier in the week, Trump said he was 'disappointed' after the five men were released on bail.

He told reporters: 'We were involved in (the investigation), but as you know, your fellow countrymen let them go.

'Well, they didn't let them go. They put them out on bail. I assume they haven't watched closely… they should not have done that.'

MARK ALMOND: This Fairford farce has put another nail in the coffin of US-British relations