On Monday, at least ten US Air Force refueling planes departed a second British airbase.
According to flight tracking data examined by news Verify, the aircraft departed RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and touched down at Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire, Scotland, as well as other American locations in Europe.
The Wall Street Journal stated that this was a reaction to an Iranian threat, although the news hasn’t independently confirmed that.
The departures on Monday occur weeks after the United States removed its bombers from RAF Fairford airport due to a security issue that may have been connected to Iran.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What happened | US military aircraft departed RAF Mildenhall. |
| Location | Suffolk, England, and other European locations. |
| When | Monday |
| Aircraft involved | US KC 135 refuelling tankers. |
| Other location | Prestwick Airport, Scotland. |
| Main concern | Security threats involving UK military bases. |
| UK response | Officials say military base security remains a priority. |
| Related incident | Security investigation near RAF Fairford. |
US Military Aircraft Relocate Across Europe
Eight further US KC-135s departed Mildenhall later on Monday, according to flight-tracking data.
An aircraft belonging to the Nebraska Air National Guard may have made a routine stop before returning to its American station when it landed in Prestwick, Scotland, on Monday.
In response to the US plan to relocate certain military aircraft to places in Europe, Downing Street has maintained that UK airbases remain secure.
“The protection of our bases, both in the UK and throughout the world, is a top priority, and we work closely with the police,” stated the prime minister’s official spokeswoman.
Flight-tracking data shows that eight more US KC-135s left Mildenhall later on Monday.
When an aircraft from the Nebraska Air National Guard touched down at Prestwick, Scotland, on Monday, it may have made a standard stop before heading back to its American station.
Downing Street has insisted that UK airbases are safe in reaction to the US proposal to move certain military aircraft to locations in Europe.The prime minister’s official spokesperson said, “We work closely with the police and the protection of our bases, both in the UK and around the world, is a top priority.”
US Tankers Deployed Amid Iran Operations
Additionally, it has used as a staging place for planes and supplies headed for the Middle East.
During operations against Iran, air refueling tankers were “forward deployed” to the area.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell told news Breakfast that she was unable to comment on continuing operational issues when asked about the US removing planes from RAF Mildenhall.
She said that “we take the security and safety of our bases incredibly seriously” and “we will always act on security intelligence when we need to”.
According to a US Air Force official, the air force’s aircraft “rotate between installations and operating locations for a variety of reasons.”
Security Concerns Prompt US Aircraft Relocation
“We are talking about an airbase which houses these large tanker aircraft,” former UK national security advisor Lord Ricketts stated on Radio 4’s Today program. They are unavoidably susceptible since they are big targets and an airfield has a lengthy perimeter.
“At this point, nobody knows what this information was,” he continued. I think being too cautious is a contributing factor.””Obviously, we’re always concerned about the safety and security of our personnel and their families overseas,” he continued. “We’ve addressed it by moving people away from the threat.”
Iran Linked Plot Raises UK Base Security Fears
In September, three suspicious vehicles were spotted close to the location, prompting the declaration of a serious emergency. Subsequently, it was revealed that the United States had removed its bombers from the base and brought them back to the United States.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the news few days after the event that there were “strong indications” Iran was involved, a claim Iran has refuted.
In October, two British citizens appeared in court for a purported conspiracy involving Iran. As part of the police investigation into counterterrorism, several guys have been taken into custody.
