US B-52 bombers leave UK base in sign of easing tensions with Iran

By Seo Ji-yeon, The Herald Business

US Air Force B-52 strategic bombers have departed their base in England after completing strike missions against Iran, in what analysts are reading as a signal of easing military tensions as Washington and Tehran continue post-truce negotiations.

Military outlet The War Zone reported Tuesday that six B-52 bombers stationed at RAF Fairford left the base in two separate departures that day.

The B-52s deployed to Fairford in March and supported US military strike operations against Iran.

The bombers carried long-range air-to-ground cruise missiles — the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, or JASSM — and struck key military targets inside Iran.

The US military said it hit a total of 13,000 targets during the conflict, though it has not disclosed how many missions the B-52s flew.

The withdrawal reflects a modest reduction in military tension following the US-Iran truce agreement and the ongoing working-level talks that have followed.

The US based the B-52s at Fairford because launching from England reduced flight time and improved operational efficiency compared with flying from the continental United States.

Beyond the B-52s, the US military has also been gradually pulling back other aircraft reinforced in the Middle East, including A-10 attack aircraft and F-22 and F-15E fighters.

President Donald Trump has maintained that military action against Iran could resume if negotiations break down, but he is currently placing greater weight on a diplomatic resolution.

However, analysts caution that the B-52 withdrawal does not signal a weakening of US military power against Iran.

Twelve B-1 Lancer strategic bombers remain at Fairford, and B-52s, B-1s and B-2 stealth bombers based in the continental US can be deployed immediately for long-range operations if needed. Military experts interpret the move as Washington's effort to lower military tensions during the negotiating phase while preserving a deterrent capable of resuming strikes at any time.