- British counterterrorism police have arrested five men outside RAF Fairford in England on Sunday on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism and explosives offenses.
- RAF Fairford, located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of London, is one of several bases in Britain that has been used by the U.S. Air Force under an agreement dating from the 1950s. It is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force’s 501st Combat Support Wing and is a forward operating location for U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command.
- RAF Fairford features a long runway suitable for heavy bombers such as American B-1 and B-52 aircraft, which have recently been deployed for defensive operations during the conflict involving Iran.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer granted President Donald Trump permission to use British bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missile targets following attacks on U.K. and allied interests in the Gulf region.
- Although the exact motive remains under investigation, British officials have previously warned of Iran-linked proxy threats in the country, and nearby RAF Lakenheath recently elevated its threat level to Force Protection Condition Charlie.
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