Pentagon evacuated 12 B-1 bombers over drone attack threat

In early October the US rushed 12 B-1 Lancer bombers out of RAF Fairford in England over fears of a drone strike modeled on Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web. According to Carnegie, the aircraft represented a quarter of the B-1 fleet worth about $3.8 billion, and US intelligence tied the plot to Iran's IRGC.

• 12 B-1 bombers equal a quarter of the fleet, worth about $3.8 billion
• The threat came from drones launched from unmarked vans near the base
• Ukraine's June 2025 Spider's Web used 150 drones costing about $2,000 each
• US intelligence linked the attack plan to Iran's IRGC