The United States evacuated American military aircraft from a base in England following a credible threat originating from Iran, according to an individual briefed on the intelligence behind the relocation. According to the US aircraft evacuations were first, By The Wall Street Journal.
While declining to specify the exact nature of the danger directed at RAF Mildenhall, the insider noted that US intelligence agencies have recently detected a broad spectrum of extensive plots discussed by Iranian actors targeting American assets. According to the source declined to detail the nature of the threat to the base, RAF Mildenhall, but, The US intelligence community has in recent weeks picked up a wide range of “varied, extensive, and specific” plots being discussed by the Iranians against American targets. “The Iranians clearly had specific targets and methods in mind,” the source told. Has reached out to the Iranian Embassy in London for comment on the allegations.
The threats encompass potential drone strikes against US installations as well as assassination plots, though it remains uncertain whether Iran possesses the operational capability to execute them. Additional threats were also identified within the United States.
A US official confirmed the aircraft removal as a temporary security measure while withholding comment on specific threats. Flight tracking data indicates that ten US refueling aircraft departed RAF Mildenhall, with four KC-135 Stratotankers arriving at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, one at Ramstein Air Base, four at Morón Air Base in Spain, and one at Glasgow Prestwick airport in Scotland. Flight tracking data analyzed by shows that 10 US refueling aircraft were relocated away from RAF Mildenhall on Monday.
In response to the security situation, the United States elevated the force protection threat level to FPCON Charlie at both RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath, marking the second-highest tier in the Pentagon system and indicating that some form of targeting action is likely. A representative for the US European Command stated that aircraft rotate between installations for operational requirements and training, declining further comment due to operational security.
British authorities maintained that assets move regularly based on operational demands. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Andy Burnham noted ongoing intelligence sharing and threat assessment cooperation between the UK and the US, emphasizing that base protection remains a top priority. A UK Ministry of Defense representative added that the government does not routinely comment on the activities of other foreign nations.
The aircraft movements follow a previous security incident last month involving RAF Fairford, another English military base utilized by US B-1 bombers for strikes against Iran. Those bombers were withdrawn shortly after five individuals were arrested outside the facility on September 27. British prosecutors subsequently charged two UK nationals under the National Security Act for allegedly assisting Iran in connection with the Fairford incident. Thomas Gould, Nic Robertson and Nick Paton Walsh contributed to this report.
