US Tankers Leave RAF Mildenhall as Britain Says Bases Safe
Britain said on Tuesday that its military bases were safe, after the United States removed refuelling aircraft from RAF Mildenhall following what the Wall Street Journal said was a threat from Iran. It was the second such apparent evacuation from a British base in three months.
Commercially available flight tracking data showed at least 10 Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker refuelling planes left the Royal Air Force base in Mildenhall, eastern England, on Monday. Later tracking showed four of the tankers landed at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, four at Moron Air Base in Spain, one at Ramstein Air Base in Germany and one at Glasgow Prestwick Airport in Scotland.
At least three Osprey multipurpose aircraft also departed from Mildenhall and landed at Lakenheath, another RAF base four miles away. Video filmed by a member of the public from outside the base and verified by Reuters showed two Ospreys taxiing on the runway after landing at Lakenheath.
Asked about the moves, the US European Command said the Air Force moves aircraft between locations for a variety of reasons, and it would not comment on force protection measures.
What happened at RAF Mildenhall
A spokesman for Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the protection of Britain’s military bases was a top priority, and that the government worked closely with the police and allies to protect them. Security measures were kept under constant review, he said, and the government was investing in air defence and counter-drone capabilities. Asked if he was confident that Britain’s bases were safe, he said: “Yes.” The White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the evacuations were prompted by a threat from Iran. The precise nature of the threat was under discussion among US officials, it said. Sources told The National that the alleged Iranian threat involved a plan to target the base with kamikaze drones, and that there was likely credible intelligence behind the move.
The Journal also reported that the United States had raised the security posture at RAF Mildenhall and nearby RAF Lakenheath to Force Protection Condition Charlie, the second-highest defensive threat level in the Pentagon’s system. That level is used when intelligence indicates that some form of attack is likely.
Why the Mildenhall move matters
Mildenhall is a key base for the US Air Force in Europe. It hosts the 100th Air Refueling Wing, the only permanent US aerial refuelling wing in Europe, which operates the KC-135 Stratotanker.
The move follows an earlier scare at another British base. In September, the US removed bombers from RAF Fairford on security grounds after men approached the base in white vans. Two men were charged last month, with prosecutors alleging one of them had tried to assist Iranian intelligence in Britain.
Iran has denied any links to specific attacks in Britain, but its Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has said airbases used by US forces there and in other countries are legitimate targets. Britain has been warning for months that Iran has been planning attacks and recruiting people online to carry them out.
The Mildenhall evacuation shows the threat is now seen as reaching beyond the Middle East. Bases in Britain had long been treated as safe, even as US bases in the Gulf faced Iranian missiles and drones during the war.
What happens next
The aircraft are now spread across bases in Germany, Spain and Scotland, and US officials have not said when they will return to Mildenhall.
The US withdrew its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in early October after intelligence raised fears of an Iran-linked attack on the base. Two men were charged last month over the Fairford incident, including one accused of trying to assist Iranian intelligence. Iran has set seven conditions for nuclear talks with the United States. Foreign ministers of the G7 met in Paris this week to discuss Iran and Ukraine.
Frequently asked questions
What happened at RAF Mildenhall?
At least 10 US KC-135R Stratotanker refuelling planes left RAF Mildenhall in eastern England on Monday, November 9, 2026. They flew to bases in Germany, Spain and Scotland. Three Osprey aircraft also moved to nearby RAF Lakenheath.
Why did the US move the planes?
The Wall Street Journal reported that the move followed a threat from Iran. The precise nature of the threat was still under discussion among US officials. Sources told The National the alleged threat involved a plan to target the base with kamikaze drones.
What is Force Protection Condition Charlie?
It is the second-highest defensive threat level in the Pentagon’s force protection system. It is used when intelligence indicates that some form of terrorist action or targeting is likely. The US raised Mildenhall and Lakenheath to this level, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Has this happened before?
Yes. In September, the US removed bombers from RAF Fairford in England on security grounds after men approached the base in white vans. Two men were later charged over that incident.
Did Britain say its bases are safe?
Yes. A spokesman for Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the protection of Britain’s military bases was a top priority. Asked if he was confident the bases were safe, he said: “Yes.”
