U.S. forces on Monday evacuated aircraft from RAF Mildenhall after threats from
Iran, two people with knowledge said, marking the second such withdrawal from UK
bases over Iran-linked threats. Flight-tracking data and officials showed two
air-to-air refueling tankers based at Mildenhall were diverted to Germany early
on Monday; later that day several additional tankers were moved to Germany and
other locations. A U.S. Air Force spokesman declined to provide details, saying
aircraft routinely rotate between facilities for various reasons and that
officials are still assessing whether the threat was imminent or general. The
move follows the Pentagon’s withdrawal last month of B-1 bombers from RAF
Fairford amid concerns about an Iran-backed plot to use drones and other means
to target U.S. aircrew and aircraft.
