The United States has withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain and returned them to bases in the US, amid reports of a new security threat and growing concerns over the vulnerability of American military assets.

The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that all US bombers deployed at Fairford had been "re-deployed to their home stations in the United States," while citing operational security for its refusal to provide details about the movement.

The Pentagon did not publicly identify the cause of the withdrawal. However, US media reports cited officials as saying the move followed a new security threat, with one official alleging that the British base could face an attack linked to Iran.

About a dozen B-1 bombers were reportedly withdrawn over the weekend, according to Axios. A US official told the outlet that the base was allegedly under threat of an Iranian attack, while another official told CNN that the aircraft had been moved following what was described as a "real world incident."

The decision to send the bombers back to the United States rather than relocate them to another military facility in the region was described by the CNN source as unusual.

Washington has not provided evidence publicly linking Iran to any planned attack, and the Pentagon has not confirmed the allegations. Instead, it stressed that US bombers routinely operate from different locations around the world.

The Pentagon nevertheless sought to underline Washington's military readiness, saying its bomber force, including B-1, B-2 and B-52 aircraft, remains capable of delivering precision global-strike capabilities from bases in the continental United States.

The withdrawal comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States and growing scrutiny of Washington's military deployments in and around the Middle East.

From Tehran's perspective, the movement of US strategic bombers highlights the increasing security risks associated with Washington's military presence in the region and its surrounding areas. Iran has repeatedly warned that foreign military bases and forces could become targets if Washington engages in military confrontation with the Islamic Republic.

The development has also raised questions about security at RAF Fairford, a key US military facility in Britain that has frequently hosted American strategic bombers.

On Sept. 27, British police declared a major incident after three vans were reported near the base. Five British men aged between 23 and 25 from the London area were arrested on suspicion of explosives-related offences and later on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.

Police said petrol was found in the vehicles but no explosives. The five men were released on bail the following day.

A sixth man, a dual British-Iranian national, was arrested in Westminster on Thursday on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts and was subsequently released on bail, according to Britain's Counter Terrorism Policing.

A 26-year-old British national was also questioned under caution.

British authorities have not publicly established a connection between those incidents and Iran, while the US government has likewise not provided evidence demonstrating that Tehran was responsible for any threat against RAF Fairford.

Britain's Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the US withdrawal, according to the BBC.

The return of the bombers to the United States nevertheless represents a notable adjustment in the Pentagon's posture at Fairford, particularly as Washington continues to assess the security of its military infrastructure amid heightened tensions with Iran.

For Tehran, the episode underscores the potential vulnerability of US military assets outside the continental United States and the strategic risks Washington faces when deploying long-range strike capabilities close to areas of confrontation. (ILKHA)