US Air Force Moves Aircraft From England Base Amid Iran Threat
Thirteen planes left RAF Mildenhall for Scotland, Spain, and Germany, according to open-source analysts, as security officials raised alert levels.
By Layla Richardson ·
The U.S. Air Force moved aircraft out of a base in eastern England after identifying a security threat, according to U.S. officials.
The Military Air Tracking Alliance, a group of roughly 30 open-source analysts, reported that 13 U.S. aircraft departed from RAF Mildenhall. The planes were sent to bases in Scotland, Spain, and Germany. The Wall Street Journal first reported that the threat was linked to Iran, citing people familiar with the matter.
The relocation involved a mix of aircraft, including Osprey planes and midair refueling tankers. Some of these vehicles were permanently based at RAF Mildenhall, while others were on rotation. The base also raised its alert level to FPCON Charlie, the second highest level. This status applies when intelligence suggests that terrorist action targeting personnel or facilities is likely.
A U.S. official described the move as proactive rather than reactive. The official stated that the military is agile regarding potential threats and that some of the departing planes may return. The official did not specify the exact nature or source of the threat. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is constantly repositioning forces for various reasons and referred questions to the Pentagon, which did not provide immediate confirmation.
An Air Force official in Europe told the Associated Press that the U.S. is taking coordinated actions to ensure the safety of U.S. and U.K. personnel and their families. The official noted that aircraft rotate between bases for training and real-world requirements. The U.K. prime minister’s office said British air bases are safe and that the two nations are sharing intelligence and assessing threats together. The U.K. Defense Ministry stated it does not comment on the activity of other nations but acknowledged that assets move regularly according to operational requirements.
This incident occurred less than two months after the U.S. Air Force withdrew bombers from RAF Fairford, another U.S.-run base in Britain. Police were investigating a suspected terror plot linked to Iran at that time. Five men were detained on Sept. 27 after three suspicious vans were spotted traveling toward RAF Fairford. Two men have since been charged under the National Security Act. RAF Mildenhall hosts the 100th refueling wing, the only permanent refueling wing in the European region. The wing operates KC-135 Stratotankers, which can carry up to 83,000 pounds of cargo.
