US moves aircraft from RAF Mildenhall over Iran threat

The US military moved aircraft out of RAF Mildenhall in eastern England on Monday, November 9, after a threat from Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. US officials were still discussing whether the threat was imminent or more general. Mildenhall is the second British base to see US aircraft leave over Iran-related security concerns. Weeks earlier, a suspected Iran-linked incident at RAF Fairford led to the withdrawal of American B-1 bombers.wsj.com

Tankers sent to Germany

Two US refueling tankers using Mildenhall were diverted to Germany early Monday morning, and several more were moved to Germany and other locations later in the day, LBC reported, citing the Journal. According to The War Zone, flight trackers saw KC-135 tankers fly to Spangdahlem in Germany and Prestwick in Scotland, while CV-22B Ospreys moved from Mildenhall to nearby RAF Lakenheath. Mildenhall hosts the Air Force's 100th Air Refueling Wing, EconoTimes noted.lbc.co.uk+2

A US official told the Journal that security at Mildenhall and Lakenheath had been raised to FPCON Charlie, a level used when intelligence suggests some form of terrorist action is likely, Kurdistan24 reported. Another US official told The War Zone that "enhanced force protection measures are in effect across RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall," but would not describe them "for operational security reasons." The same morning, Lakenheath asked the public to report suspicious activity, including unauthorized drones, though the outlet said it was unclear whether the notice was linked.twz.com+1

Officials gave few details in public. The Air Force said aircraft rotate between locations for a variety of reasons, and the White House referred questions to the Pentagon, Kurdistan24 reported. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Journal, "We've addressed it by moving people away from the threat." A British Ministry of Defence spokesperson said, "Aircraft and other assets move regularly according to operational requirements," LBC reported.kurdistan24.net+1

Fairford precedent

Five British men were arrested outside RAF Fairford in southwest England in September, and the US soon withdrew its B-1 bombers from the base on security grounds, according to LBC. US bombers had flown strikes on Iran from Fairford, and Tehran directly threatened the base in July, The War Zone reported. UK officials say Iran-linked proxies have been behind a series of arson and other attacks in Britain, The Times of Israel reported.timesofisrael.com+2

The moves come as President Donald Trump weighs whether to resume strikes on Iran, The War Zone reported. On Monday, Trump said Iran was "talking very politely" with US negotiators and that the war was "effectively over," according to The Times of Israel.twz.com+1