Trump Says ‘Threat’ Led US to Pull Bombers From RAF Fairford

President Donald Trump has said the US moved its bombers out of RAF Fairford because of “some threats” to the base.
The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday it had removed its bombers – thought to be about a dozen B-1s – from the base back to their home stations in America.
Speaking to reporters as he departed for Nebraska on Monday, Trump said the US had known of a “threat”, which led them to move the bombers.
US media reports suggested that the decision was made due to intelligence suggesting that Iran was plotting a drone attack. The BBC has not confirmed this and Trump has refused to be drawn on the question.
The exact nature of the threat that prompted the aircraft’s removal from RAF Fairford remains unclear, but sources in Washington said that it might have revolved around sabotage attempts or attempts to strike the sensitive, expensive aircraft in the event of resumed hostilities with Iran.
One source close to the White House pointed to Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb as an example of what an enemy force could do, even at a distance.
Operation Spiderweb was an operation in June last year in which Ukraine smuggled drones into Russia. These were carried on lorries to locations near airbases by drivers who were unaware of their cargo, then launched and set upon their targets.
The source added: “Whatever they thought it was, it was taken extremely seriously.”
Earlier on Monday, a No 10 spokesperson had insisted RAF Fairford was safe and pointed to Trump’s comments last week, where he praised the UK’s “police, defence and security services” in relation to the base.