Telegraph: Iran at the Forefront of Suspicions of Targeting a British Base Used by American Forces

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British anti-terrorism police are investigating the possibility of Iran being behind a suspected bombing plot targeting the RAF Fairford airbase in Gloucestershire, which is used by U.S. Air Forces in operations against Iran, according to the British newspaper 'Telegraph'.

British authorities have arrested five men on suspicion of offenses under the Explosive Substances Act and preparing for a terrorist act, after three suspicious trucks were spotted heading towards the base in the early hours of Sunday.

The 'Telegraph' reported that investigators are considering several possibilities regarding the party behind the plot, including a Russian sabotage operation or a scheme linked to extremist Islamic groups, but sources familiar with the investigation said that the motive linked to Iran is currently the most likely scenario.

According to sources cited by the newspaper, if a connection to Tehran is confirmed, it is likely that the operation was carried out by elements directly linked to Iran, rather than through criminal proxies, as has occurred in previous incidents attributed to networks associated with Iran.

The hypothesis of Iranian motivation gains particular importance due to the location of the base and its role in U.S. military operations. RAF Fairford has been used by U.S. Air Force during operations against Iranian targets, making it previously a direct threat from Tehran. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard had threatened last July to target the base, stating that "any base used for aggression against Iranian territory is a legitimate target for us."

For his part, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the detained men were "looking to cause significant harm," praising the cooperation between British and American authorities. He added that the suspects had been under surveillance for a long time before their arrest.

The police announced that the operation began after receiving a report around 12:45 AM about three suspicious vehicles heading towards the base, after which armed forces spread out and arrested the five men in the nearby Wilford area.

A specialized team from the British Army was also called in to deal with explosives to inspect the vehicles, while about 85 homes in the area were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Images from the incident site show a robot from the bomb disposal team examining three white trucks, while the police imposed a wide security cordon around the area.