The US military has carried out a precautionary relocation of aircraft from a base in the United Kingdom following reports of a possible Iran-related security threat, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, the newspaper reported that two US aerial refuelling aircraft departed RAF Mildenhall on Monday for Germany. Additional aircraft were subsequently moved to Germany and other locations, although no further details were disclosed about the nature of the threat.
UK and US officials remain cautious
A spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence declined to confirm or deny the report, stressing that the movement of military assets is routine.
"We do not usually comment on the activities of other countries. Aircraft and other assets are regularly moved according to operational requirements."
The Pentagon and the US European Command did not immediately respond to requests from Reuters for comment.
Arrests linked to suspected espionage activities
The latest developments follow a security incident at RAF Fairford in southwest England in September.
Five men were arrested outside the base, while two additional suspects were later detained on suspicion of assisting Iranian intelligence services.
Following those arrests, US forces reportedly removed B-1 strategic bombers from the base as a precautionary measure.
RAF Fairford has previously been used by the United States during military operations targeting Iran, increasing concerns about the security of American military facilities in Britain.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said last month that the incident may have been linked to coordinated Iranian activity, a claim rejected by Iran's ambassador to the UK.
No confirmed link
So far, there has been no official confirmation that the aircraft relocations are directly connected to a specific operation or an imminent Iranian threat.
Sources: The Wall Street Journal, Reuters
