The United States has moved military aircraft from a second airbase in Britain following what US officials described as a potential “threat” from Iran, a report says, highlighting growing security concerns surrounding American military installations involved in the aggression against the Islamic Republic.
According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), two US aerial refueling tankers operating from RAF Mildenhall were diverted to Germany on Monday, while several other tankers stationed at the base were subsequently relocated to Germany and other locations, according to the report, which cited people familiar with the matter.
The precise nature of the alleged threat to RAF Mildenhall remains under discussion among US officials, the WSJ said.
The US military has also raised the security alert level at RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath to Force Protection Condition (FPCON) Charlie, the second-highest threat level in the Pentagon’s security system.
A British Ministry of Defense spokesperson declined to comment directly on the reported aircraft movements, saying military assets regularly move according to operational requirements.
A US Air Force spokesperson also declined to provide details, noting that American aircraft routinely rotate between military installations and operating locations.
The reported evacuation comes weeks after Washington withdrew its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in southwest England following a security incident outside the base in September.
Five men were arrested in connection with the incident, with two others subsequently arrested on suspicion of assisting Iranian intelligence, allegations Tehran has denied.
The incident drew international attention because RAF Fairford had been used by US bombers to launch attacks against Iran, making the base a potential target in the event of further escalation.
Tehran has maintained that its defensive measures are directed against military aggression and that bases used by the United States to conduct attacks on Iranian territory cannot be considered beyond the scope of legitimate defensive responses.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has slammed the UK for “putting British lives in danger” by allowing its bases to be used “for aggression against Iran.”
Tehran had previously warned London against allowing British bases to be used for US military aggression against Iran.
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