US moves aircraft from RAF Mildenhall after Iranian threat, Wall Street Journal reports
The United States relocated refueling tankers from RAF Mildenhall to Germany following an alleged Iranian threat, while security at the base was raised to FPCON Charlie.
The United States evacuated aircraft from the RAF Mildenhall airbase in Britain on Monday after a threat that was linked to Iran, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal that cited sources familiar with the matter. Two U.S. refueling tankers stationed at Mildenhall were redirected to Germany earlier in the day, and additional tankers were later moved to Germany and other locations.
The journal said officials are still discussing the exact nature of the threat, but the security posture at RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath was upgraded to Force Protection Condition (FPCON) Charlie, the second-highest defensive level used by the U.S. Department of Defense when intelligence suggests a terrorist act is likely.
"We do not routinely comment on the activity of other nations. Aircraft and other assets move regularly according to operational requirements," a spokesperson for the British Ministry of Defence said.
A U.S. Air Force spokesperson declined to provide details about the asset movements, noting that aircraft rotate between installations for various reasons. Reuters was unable to reach the Air Force, and the White House, the Pentagon and U.S. European Command did not respond to requests for comment.
The relocation follows the earlier removal of U.S. B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford after a security incident in September that led to the arrest of several men suspected of assisting Iranian intelligence. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham had previously suggested the Fairford activity was likely coordinated in Iran, a claim denied by Iran's ambassador while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have called any base used to launch attacks on Iran a legitimate target.