WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has evacuated aircraft from a second British air base following a security threat linked to Iran, according to reports published on Monday.
Citing individuals familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. refueling tankers stationed at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Mildenhall base in England were relocated to Germany and other locations. U.S. officials are reportedly still examining the precise nature and immediacy of the threat directed at the facility.
In response to the security concerns, authorities raised the force protection condition at RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath to FPCON Charlie, a status indicating that intelligence points to likely targeting or terrorist action against personnel and facilities.
The precautionary relocation comes weeks after the U.S. military withdrew its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford—another British installation utilized for strikes on Iran—following a September security incident that led to multiple arrests over suspected ties to Iranian intelligence.
A spokesperson for the British Ministry of Defence declined to comment on specific allied operations, noting that aircraft and assets move routinely according to operational needs. Meanwhile, U.S. congressional leaders received briefings on the ongoing threats, and intelligence officials previously highlighted concerns regarding potential Iranian targeting of Western personnel.
