# US withdraws bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain over an Iranian drone threat, and Trump tells a rally Iran could "take out" Los Angeles

US officials told The New York Times that 12 bombers left the base after specific threat details emerged, and Israeli outlets report that Iran planned an attack modeled on Ukraine's 2025 drone strike on Russian bomber bases.

- Published: 2026-10-06T05:03:31.630Z
- Canonical: https://polylog.news/2026-10-06/us-withdraws-bombers-from-raf-fairford-in-britain-over-an-ir
- Publisher: Polylog (Global desk)
- Section: geopolitics
- Sources: [Ynet (Hebrew)](https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/hyhzygmizl), [Globes (Hebrew)](https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001558513#utm_source=RSS), [TASS](https://tass.com/world/2197905)

The US Air Force has moved all the bombers it had at the Royal Air Force (RAF) base at Fairford in England back to their home bases in the United States. A Pentagon official [told NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/air-force-removes-bombers-british-base-targeted-suspected-terror-plot-rcna601484) about the move. Aircraft from the base had been used in strikes on Iran. [Globes, citing The New York Times](https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001558513#utm_source=RSS), reported that 12 bombers left because of fears of an Iranian drone attack. US officials said the order came after more specific details of the threat emerged over the weekend. [Ynet reported](https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/hyhzygmizl), citing US media, that Iran planned an operation similar to "Spiderweb," Ukraine's June 2025 drone attack on Russian strategic bombers, to hit US aircraft at the British base.

British police arrested a dual British-Iranian national in central London last week on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack, [NBC reported](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/air-force-removes-bombers-british-base-targeted-suspected-terror-plot-rcna601484). The arrest followed a security incident at Fairford in late September. The UK government said the base was safe. [ITV News reported](https://www.itv.com/news/2026-10-05/raf-fairford-safe-after-us-withdraws-bombers-downing-street-says) that US officials were concerned about a "multiple drone attack." Globes also reported that President Donald Trump said he believes Iran was responsible for an attempted attack on a flight. Neither outlet gave further details. No Iranian official response appeared in the reporting reviewed for this article.

At a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, Trump discussed the war and gasoline prices. He said higher fuel prices were "a small price to pay," then added, "Let 'em take out Los Angeles. Let 'em take out San Diego," [KTLA reported](https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/trump-on-war-in-iran-let-em-take-out-los-angeles-let-em-take-out-san-diego/). California Governor Gavin Newsom called the remarks "deranged and dangerous," [Forbes reported](https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2026/10/05/trump-draws-backlash-for-saying-let-them-take-out-los-angeles-or-san-diego-during-iran-war-remarks/). Russia's [TASS](https://tass.com/world/2197905) reported that Trump said the cities "could be destroyed" and noted that he did not explain the remarks.

## What this means

The Iran war is now raising the cost of hosting US forces in Europe. Iran cannot match US air power, but cheap drones and covert cells can force Washington to pull high-value aircraft back across the Atlantic. Each sortie (one flight mission) then takes longer, and host governments become politically exposed. Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb showed that long-range bombers can be destroyed on the ground, far from the front, with inexpensive systems. Every air force has since had to treat its rear bases as targets. The likelier outcome is that European governments hosting US bases face domestic pressure within weeks to limit their use for strikes on Iran, and that Washington shifts long-range missions to US-based aircraft and more remote facilities. That would raise the operating cost of the campaign without changing its direction. The read is wrong if Britain publicly reaffirms full access and the bombers return to Fairford within a month. That would show the threat was contained, not that the campaign was constrained.

## What to watch

- Whether British prosecutors bring charges in the Fairford case, which would show how much of the alleged plot is supported by evidence.
- Statements from Spain, Italy or Germany on US use of their bases for operations against Iran. Any restriction would mean hosting US forces now carries a political cost.
- Whether US bombers return to Fairford, which would indicate whether the move was a temporary precaution or a lasting change in posture.