The US has removed all its heavy bombers from RAF Fairford in the UK. The move came a week after several men were arrested outside of the base under allegations of terrorism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two events are unconnected. 

On Sunday, the Department of War confirmed that all 12 B-1 bombers deployed to RAF Fairford were being returned to their home stations in the United States. The move is significant as the US-run base was used in operations against Iran and is one of the few runways in Europe capable of handling US heavy bombers. 

The options for relocating the bombers elsewhere in Europe are limited. Two bases capable of supporting heavy bombers are in Spain, and Madrid has barred the US from using Spanish airspace for operations against Iran. Another potential base is in Turkey, potentially within range of Iranian missiles. 

The announcement followed the arrest of six men in the UK in an alleged terror plot. The first five men were arrested near the base on suspicion of terrorism offenses. 

A sixth man, a dual British-Iranian national, was later arrested in London. All six suspects have since been released on bail as the investigation continues. The release irked President Donald Trump. However, Rubio said on Monday the two events were unrelated. 

“I wouldn’t just directly tie that to the move that was made,” Rubio told reporters. “The Department of ​War is constantly reallocating resources where they need to be.”

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham claimed there are “strong indications” that the men are connected to Iran. “There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford, but of course it remains an ongoing, complex, and serious police investigation,” he said on Wednesday. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also linked the arrests to Iran, saying Tel Aviv warned London last month that Tehran was plotting attacks. A NATO official told Reuters on Monday, “It is still believed that Iran poses an acute threat to ​US assets in the UK.”

However, the UK has not presented evidence of a connection to Iran, or even that the men were planning to attack the base. Additionally, Iran denies any involvement.