LONDON (Diya TV) — The U.S. Air Force relocated 13 aircraft from RAF Mildenhall in eastern England to bases in Scotland, Germany and Spain after receiving a threat, U.S. officials said. The officials described the move as precautionary but did not identify the threat’s source, target or timing.
The Military Air Tracking Alliance, a group of about 30 open-source analysts that monitors military flights, recorded the departures. The aircraft included KC-135 Stratotanker refueling planes and Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. Some were permanently based at Mildenhall; others were visiting or rotating through the installation. A U.S. official said some of the aircraft could return, but the military has not announced a timetable.
A report citing people familiar with the matter linked the threat to Iran. U.S. and British officials have not confirmed that link or described what prompted the relocation. The U.S. official characterized the decision as proactive, not a response to an attack. The Pentagon did not immediately provide further details, citing operational security.
The Military Air Tracking Alliance also reported that RAF Mildenhall raised its force-protection status to FPCON Charlie, the second-highest level in the U.S. military’s five-level system. The Defense Department uses Charlie when an incident occurs or intelligence indicates that a hostile act or terrorist action against personnel or facilities may be likely. The military has not publicly confirmed the base’s alert status.
Mildenhall hosts the 100th Air Refueling Wing, the only permanently based U.S. air-refueling wing in the European theater. Its KC-135 tankers refuel aircraft in flight, allowing fighters, bombers and support planes to travel farther without landing. The wing supports U.S. and allied operations across Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia. Moving tankers away from the base shifts where military aircraft can refuel, although officials have not said whether the relocation affected any missions.
The relocation follows a separate security investigation at RAF Fairford, another British base used by U.S. forces. On Sept. 27, police arrested five men after reports of suspicious vehicles near the air base. The Air Force withdrew its bombers from Fairford in early October. On Oct. 27, British prosecutors charged two men under the National Security Act: one with allegedly assisting a foreign intelligence service and the other with allegedly approaching a prohibited site for a purpose prejudicial to the United Kingdom. British counterterrorism police said investigators believe Iran was involved. The charges remain allegations, and officials have not linked the Fairford case to the Mildenhall threat.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States regularly repositions forces around the world and referred questions about the aircraft to the Pentagon. A U.S. Air Force in Europe official said the military was coordinating security measures with Britain to protect personnel and their families. The official also noted that aircraft routinely move between bases for training and operational needs.
Britain’s prime minister’s office said the country’s air bases remain safe and that British and U.S. officials continue to share intelligence and assess threats together. The British Defense Ministry said it does not comment on another country’s aircraft activity and that military assets move regularly to meet operational requirements.
The Air Force has not said when the aircraft will return to Mildenhall or whether authorities have identified the threat. For now, officials have confirmed a precautionary relocation and heightened concern around a key U.S. air-refueling hub, but have not verified an Iranian connection.
