OMM Newsroom
US forces have moved aircraft from a second air base in the United Kingdom following reports of a threat linked to Iran. Two US tanker aircraft stationed at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk were redirected to Germany on Monday, AnewZ reported, citing The Wall Street Journal.
The newspaper, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that several more aircraft were later moved to Germany and other locations. US officials are assessing the precise nature of the reported threat.
A representative of the UK Ministry of Defence declined to comment specifically on the aircraft movements. “Aircraft and other assets are routinely moved in line with operational requirements,” the representative said. The Pentagon and US European Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Earlier security incident at RAF Fairford
The latest development follows a security incident outside RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire in September. Five men were arrested at the time, and two people were later detained on suspicion of assisting Iranian intelligence.
The incident prompted US forces to move B-1 bombers from the base over security concerns. RAF Fairford has previously been used as a launch point for US bombing operations against Iran.
The circumstances surrounding the arrests have not been fully explained. The incident has nevertheless raised concerns about potential threats to Western military facilities.
Last month, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said activity at RAF Fairford was likely coordinated from Iran. Iran’s ambassador to the United Kingdom rejected the claim.
Security concerns grow
The reported threat comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, as the two countries are involved in a broader conflict. The relocation of aircraft from RAF Mildenhall has highlighted concerns about the security of US military assets based in Europe.
US forces and UK officials have not publicly confirmed the nature of the latest threat or whether it is directly connected to the earlier incident at RAF Fairford.
