The US Air Force flew two more Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers out of Britain’s RAF Mildenhall to Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany on Tuesday after ground crews made them airworthy, bringing the total evacuated from the base to 12 refueling tankers and three CV-22B Ospreys. The dispersal was prompted by intelligence assessed as credible after US agencies detected “varied, extensive, and specific” Iranian plots against American targets in recent weeks, ranging from drone attacks on military bases to assassination schemes and threats inside the US, CNN reported, citing a person familiar with the intelligence.
The latest departures comprised 10 tankers assigned to Mildenhall’s 100th Aerial Refueling Wing and two transient tankers relocated across bases in Germany, Spain, and Prestwick in Scotland, while the three Ospreys moved to nearby RAF Lakenheath. Six based tankers, four of which have not flown this month and are believed to be in maintenance, remained at Mildenhall alongside one transient tanker and an RC-135 reconnaissance plane, while Lakenheath stayed closed all day Tuesday. Asked about the aircraft movements on Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “I’d have to refer you to the Department of War. I can’t comment on the decisions they make.”
