More than 12 US Air Force aircraft have departed from a second British airbase following the previous withdrawal of US bombers from RAF Fairford over a suspected Iran-linked security incident. The latest departures from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk include Boeing Stratotanker KC-135 refuelling aircraft and Osprey planes, with flights heading toward locations in Germany, Italy, Spain, and Scotland.
Flight Activity and Official Responses
BBC Verify used Flightradar24 to track 10 USAF KC-135 tankers leaving RAF Mildenhall throughout Monday, with additional departures continuing on Tuesday afternoon. The Ministry of Defence stated that it does not routinely comment on the activities of other nations and that assets move regularly according to operational requirements. Downing Street insisted that the protection of British bases is a top priority and that the facilities remain safe. Liberal Democrats defence spokesperson James MacCleary challenged this stance on X, stating that airfield security appears compromised or under threat frequently.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell told BBC Breakfast that she could not comment on ongoing operational matters, while adding that the government takes base security incredibly seriously and acts on intelligence when necessary. A US Air Force spokesperson stated that aircraft rotate between locations for reasons including training and real-world requirements, and that operations security prevents them from providing further movement details.
Security Context and Expert Analysis
The departures follow a September incident at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire where a major incident was declared after three suspicious vans were spotted near the facility, leading the US to return its bombers to America. Counter Terrorism Policing confirmed that seven men have been arrested and an eighth has been charged under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023, with two British nationals appearing in court in October regarding an alleged Iran-linked plot. Iran has previously stated it views UK bases used by the US for military strikes as legitimate targets.
Former UK national security adviser Lord Ricketts told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that tanker aircraft are large targets with vulnerable perimeters, adding that the move likely stemmed from an abundance of caution. Retired RAF Air Marshal Greg Bagwell told BBC Verify that the movements could be linked to an exercise, weather conditions, a hoax involving nuisance hybrid warfare, or a genuine threat. RAF Mildenhall houses about 3,000 military personnel and serves as a staging area for Middle East operations and presidential visits.
