At least 10 US Air Force refuelling aircraft departed a second British airbase, RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, on Monday. Flight tracking data indicates these aircraft landed at other American bases in Europe and also at Prestwick Airport in Scotland. This development follows a similar withdrawal of US bombers from RAF Fairford airbase in Gloucestershire weeks earlier, reportedly linked to a suspected Iran-related security incident.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that the departures are a response to a threat from Iran, though this claim has not been independently verified by the BBC. The UK Ministry of Defence stated it does not routinely comment on the activity of other nations, adding that aircraft and assets move regularly according to operational requirements. The US Air Force confirmed that its aircraft rotate between installations for various reasons, including training and operational needs, and operate under agreements with allies.

Flight tracking data observed by BBC Verify showed USAF KC-135 tankers leaving Mildenhall throughout Monday. Some aircraft initially flew to US bases in Germany and Italy, with one returning to Mildenhall before heading east to Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany. Another aircraft flew circuits over Aviano Air Base in Italy before landing at Spangdahlem. Eight other KC-135s left Mildenhall later in the day.

One aircraft that landed at Prestwick in Scotland is associated with the Nebraska Air National Guard, suggesting it might have been a routine stop en route back to its home base in the United States. Education Secretary Lucy Powell, when asked about the flights, stated she could not comment on ongoing operational matters but emphasized that the security and safety of bases are taken extremely seriously and action is always taken based on security intelligence.

Former UK National Security Adviser Lord Ricketts described airbases housing large tanker aircraft as potentially vulnerable due to their size and long perimeters. He suggested the current actions might be a measure of abundant caution, acknowledging that the specific intelligence behind the move remains unknown.

In a separate but related context, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking before news of the Mildenhall departures emerged, addressed concerns about Iranian threats against American diplomats overseas. He indicated that the US had moved personnel away from threats and stressed a constant concern for the safety and security of personnel and their families abroad when potential threats exceed a certain threshold.

The movement of these aircraft highlights the ongoing geopolitical sensitivities and the operational considerations for military assets stationed abroad. The lack of independent verification for the Iran-related threat leaves the precise reasons for the aircraft's relocation open to speculation, though official statements emphasize standard operational procedures and security protocols.

Further details on the specific intelligence prompting these movements and the duration of the aircraft's deployment at alternative locations remain undisclosed, consistent with operational security measures typically employed by the US Air Force and defence ministries.