London (TDI): The British government has said its military bases remain safe after the United States moved several refuelling aircraft away from a Royal Air Force base in eastern England following reports of a possible threat from Iran.
Commercial flight-tracking data showed that at least 10 US Air Force Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft departed RAF Mildenhall on Monday. The aircraft were relocated to different destinations, including Germany, Scotland and Spain, although the destinations of six planes were not publicly identified.
At least three US Osprey aircraft also left Mildenhall and landed at RAF Lakenheath, another British airbase located about four miles away. Reuters reported.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the aircraft movements were prompted by a threat from Iran, although the precise nature of the reported threat remained under discussion among US officials.
Asked about the departures, US European Command said the Air Force routinely moves aircraft between locations for various operational reasons. It declined to discuss force protection measures, citing operational security.
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A spokesman for Prime Minister Andy Burnham said protecting British military installations was a government priority, adding that authorities worked closely with police and international allies to safeguard the bases.
He said security arrangements were under constant review and that the government was investing in air defense and counter-drone capabilities.
Asked whether the government was confident that Britain’s military bases were safe, the spokesman replied: “Yes.”
The latest movement comes less than three months after the United States removed bombers from RAF Fairford in September amid security concerns.
The aircraft had previously been used in strikes against Iran. Their relocation followed an incident in which a group of men approached the base in white vans.
Two men were charged last month in connection with the incident, with prosecutors alleging that one had attempted to assist Iranian intelligence activities in Britain.
Iran has denied involvement in specific attacks on British soil. However, its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has described airbases used by US forces in Britain and other countries as legitimate targets.
Read More: UK Probes Possible Foreign State Role in RAF Fairford Attack Plot
British authorities have also warned that Iran has been seeking to organize attacks in the country, including by recruiting individuals online to carry them out.
Domestic intelligence chief Ken McCallum said in a speech last month that operations linked to Iran had resulted in more than 50 arrests over the preceding year.
He warned that Iran was increasingly attempting to target more heavily protected sites, including military installations in the United Kingdom. Previous operations, he said, had been constrained by the limited capabilities of criminal intermediaries allegedly used as proxies.
