In brief
A group of U.S. refueling aircraft were diverted from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England, on Monday after the U.S. Air Force said the planes could be at risk. The move followed earlier evacuations from RAF Fairford and a separate warning about possible Iranian threats. About 3,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed at Mildenhall, and the aircraft were rerouted to Germany and other locations.
The United States moved several of its aircraft out of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Mildenhall base in Suffolk, England, on Monday after security concerns were raised. Xinhua reported that two U.S. refueling tankers were diverted to Germany early in the morning, and additional tankers were moved to Germany and other sites later that day.
Around 3,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed at RAF Mildenhall, which is 80 miles north of London. The relocation follows the Pentagon’s decision last month to pull B‑1 bomber aircraft back from RAF Fairford after a series of police evacuations around the base on September 27.
In September, British police evacuated homes near RAF Fairford, and army bomb‑disposal experts were called in to inspect vehicles. Seven people were later arrested on suspicion of explosives offences linked to a potential act of terror. The Pentagon confirmed in October that all U.S. bombers deployed to Fairford had returned to U.S. home stations.
A report from The Wall Street Journal added that the U.S. described the move from Mildenhall as a reaction to a threat from Iran. While Xinhua and CNN noted the aircraft were relocated to mitigate a potential risk, the WSJ cited the Iranian threat as the cause.
Flight‑tracking data analyzed by CNN showed ten U.S. refueling aircraft were moved away from RAF Mildenhall on Monday, confirming the broader realignment of U.S. forces in the UK. The move is part of a wider effort to address security and strategic concerns at U.S. bases in Britain.
