London, Nov 10 (AP) The US Air Force has relocated aircraft from a base in eastern England because of a threat, a US official told The Associated Press.
The Military Air Tracking Alliance, a team of about 30 open-source analysts that routinely analyses military and government flight activity, said that it spotted 13 US aircraft stationed at RAF Mildenhall departing for bases in Scotland, Spain and Germany.
The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the evacuation, said that the threat related to Iran. The report cited "people familiar with the matter."
The relocation of the aircraft came less than two months after the US Air Force withdrew its bombers from another US-run base in Britain, RAF Fairford, as police investigated a suspected terror plot linked to Iran. Bombers flying out of RAF Fairford had been used to strike Iran during the Middle East conflict.
Some of the aircraft that were relocated were permanently based at RAF Mildenhall, while others were there on rotation and included a combination of Osprey aircraft and midair refuelling tankers, the Military Air Tracking Alliance said.
The base also raised its alert level to FPCON Charlie -- the second highest level -- the organisation said. That applies when an incident occurs or intelligence is received indicating that some form of terrorist action targeting personnel or facilities is likely. There was no immediate confirmation from the Pentagon.
The decision to move the aircraft was proactive rather than reactive, a US official said, adding that the US military is agile to potential threats. Some of the planes that left were in transit while others were permanently stationed at RAF Mildenhall and they may return, the official said. The official didn't elaborate on the nature and source of the threat.
An official from the US Air Force in Europe told the AP that the US is “taking coordinated and appropriate actions" to ensure the safety and security of US and UK personnel and their families. The official said that aircraft are rotated between bases for various reasons, including training and “real world requirements.”
The official said that the US military constantly assesses a variety of factors that determine what security measures are implemented. The official wouldn't provide further information on movement of assets or specific force protection for reasons of operational security.
Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity, because they weren't authorised to speak publicly about sensitive military matters.
The UK prime minister's office said that British air bases are safe and their security is a top priority. The office said that the UK is in constant communication with the US, sharing intelligence and assessing threats together.
RAF Mildenhall, a UK base operated by the US Air Force, hosts the 100th refuelling wing, the only permanent refuelling wing in the European region. It operates the KC-135 Stratotanker, a four-engine jet aircraft with a wingspan of 131 feet (40 metres) that can carry up to 83,000 pounds (nearly 38,000 kilograms) of cargo.
Five men were detained on September 27 after three suspicious vans were spotted travelling toward RAF Fairford. The UK-owned base has been used by American bombers during decades of conflicts in the Middle East, including the Iran war.
Other arrests followed and two men have been charged under the National Security Act.
The UK Defence Ministry said in a statement that it doesn't comment on the activity of other nations and said aircraft and other assets move regularly according to operational requirements. (AP) FHK
FHK
