"Operating bombers from forward locations enables collective defense capabilities and provides the US and NATO the strategic and operational capacity needed to deter adversaries while assuring our allies and partners," Lt. Gen Steven Basham, deputy commander of US Air Forces in Europe and Africa, said in a release.
RAF Fairford is the Air Force's forward operating location for the B-2 bomber, and despite describing Keflavik Air Base as "a forward location for the B-2" when they arrived there in August, "Iceland is not considered a forward operating location similar to RAF Fairford," US Air Forces Europe told Business Insider in September.