President Donald Trump has confirmed that United States bombers were withdrawn from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, due to unspecified threats against the base. The Pentagon had confirmed on Sunday that its bombers, believed to be around a dozen B-1s, were returned to their home stations in America.

Speaking to reporters on Monday as he departed for Nebraska, Trump stated that the US had been aware of a threat, which necessitated the relocation of the aircraft. While the precise nature of the threat remains undisclosed, US media reports have suggested it may have stemmed from intelligence indicating Iran was planning a drone attack.

The BBC has not independently verified these reports, and Trump declined to elaborate on the specific nature of the threat when questioned. Sources in Washington speculated to the BBC that the threat could have involved sabotage attempts or potential attacks on the expensive aircraft in the event of renewed hostilities with Iran.

One source familiar with White House discussions referenced Ukraine's "Operation Spiderweb" as an illustration of potential long-range threats. This operation involved smuggling drones into Russia via unsuspecting lorry drivers, who then launched them at targets near airbases. The source emphasized that the perceived threat was taken "extremely seriously."

Earlier on Monday, a spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister's Office had asserted that RAF Fairford was secure, citing President Trump's previous praise for the UK's security services in relation to the base. Trump's latest remarks appear to corroborate US media reports that a new threat prompted the bombers' removal, following an incident on September 27 involving police responding to suspicious vehicles near the airbase.

When asked directly if a specific threat had led to the bombers' departure, Trump replied, "Yeah I think we can say that. They didn't fly out by accident. There were some threats. And rather than tempting the enemy, we'll capture the enemy and beat the enemy. But why should we leave them there? So we moved them around a little bit. Not very far."

Trump indicated that US authorities were aware of those responsible for the threat, though he did not initially identify them. He later suggested a link to Iran when pressed by reporters. The White House and the UK Ministry of Defence have been contacted for comment.

In contrast to Trump's direct acknowledgment of threats, Secretary of State Marco Rubio adopted a more cautious tone, suggesting that military units and assets frequently rotate and are moved internationally, implying the movement might not be extraordinary. Nevertheless, Trump's and Vance's comments suggest a more specific security concern prompted this particular redeployment.