US reportedly evacuated aircraft from RAF Mildenhall over Iran threat
The US military evacuated aircraft from RAF Mildenhall in Britain on Monday following a threat from Iran, weeks after withdrawing bombers from RAF Fairford over a security incident.
Two US refuelling tankers diverted to Germany from RAF Mildenhall earlier on Monday, with several other tankers moved to Germany and other locations later in the day, according to the Wall Street Journal report. The precise nature of the threat remains under discussion among US officials.
Security upgrade
The US upgraded security at both RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath to Force Protection Condition (FPCON) Charlie, the second-highest defensive threat level in the US Department of Defense's system. This level is activated when intelligence indicates that a form of terrorist action is likely.
We do not routinely comment on the activity of other nations. Aircraft and other assets move regularly according to operational requirements.
Fairford incident
The evacuation comes after five men were arrested outside RAF Fairford in September over a security incident, with two others later arrested on suspicion of assisting Iranian intelligence. British prime minister Andy Burnham suggested the activity was likely coordinated in Iran.
RAF Fairford had been used by US bombers to carry out strikes on Iran. Iran's Revolutionary Guards previously declared the Fairford base and any other bases used to launch attacks against Iran as legitimate targets.
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