US Air Force evacuates tankers from base in England due to Iran threat, Wall Street Journal reports

The U.S. Air Force has moved aerial refueling tankers from a base in eastern England due to an Iranian threat, according to the Wall Street Journal. Two tankers stationed at RAF Mildenhall were moved to Germany on Monday, with additional tankers relocated to other European bases later that day, the newspaper reported. The decision to redeploy the aircraft was made by U.S. officials following an alert on Monday, the Journal said.

U.S. military aircraft are based in Britain under access, basing, and overflight agreements with allies and partners. RAF Mildenhall, a U.S.-run base, houses the 100th Refueling Wing, the sole permanent such facility in the European region, which operates the KC-135 Stratotanker, a four-engine jet capable of carrying up to 83,000 pounds of cargo.

The report follows the Air Force's withdrawal of bombers from RAF Fairford, a U.K.-run base, last month amid an Iran-linked terror investigation. Five men were arrested in connection with the probe, with two facing charges under the National Security Act. Britain's Ministry of Defense declined to comment on the movement of other nations' aircraft, stating that assets shift regularly based on operational needs.