American personnel are said to have relocated aircraft from RAF Mildenhall, with security raised at both Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath. The nature of the threat has not been made public.
US military personnel have moved aircraft away from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk after a threat linked to Iran, according to the Wall Street Journal. The base’s threat level has also been raised to Charlie, which indicates that officials consider an attack likely. A similar move is said to have taken place at nearby RAF Lakenheath. A US Air Force spokesperson did not confirm details of the redeployment but did not deny it. The reports emerged on Monday, hours after President Donald Trump said the war with Iran was “effectively over” militarily.
What is known about the threat
The nature of the threat remains unclear. Reuters reported that US officials were still assessing whether it was general or specific to the airbase. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, when asked about the concerns, is said to have replied: “We’ve addressed it by moving people away from the threat.” The account available does not establish whether he was referring only to Mildenhall or to wider US security arrangements.
The Wall Street Journal also reported that the bipartisan congressional leadership and senior intelligence lawmakers, known as the Gang of Eight, were briefed on Iranian threats on Monday. This reportedly took place as aircraft were being moved from Mildenhall.
An American official told the aviation publication The War Zone that enhanced force-protection measures were in effect at both Mildenhall and Lakenheath. The official did not say what had triggered them or how long they would last. US Air Forces in Europe said military aircraft routinely relocate for training and operational reasons, and declined to give further details on security grounds. The Ministry of Defence also declined to comment on US aircraft movements. Reuters quoted it as saying that aircraft and other military assets regularly move according to operational requirements. RAF Lakenheath issued a public reminder to report suspicious activity, including unauthorised drone activity. That reminder does not establish that drones were detected.
The aircraft movements
The War Zone said independent aviation observers tracked several KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft leaving Mildenhall on Monday 9 November. They flew to Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany and to Prestwick Airport in Scotland. The observers also reported CV-22B Osprey aircraft moving from Mildenhall to Lakenheath, which suggests that not all the movements were departures overseas. The observers first considered whether dense fog could explain some of the diversions before noticing other unusual activity. They did not establish the operational reason for each flight. The publication said aviation notices linked to Veterans Day and Thanksgiving were unrelated.
The reports do not show that all aircraft were evacuated from either base, and no complete official list of departures has been released.
What Charlie means
Force Protection Condition Charlie is the second-highest of the US military’s five levels, above Normal, Alpha and Bravo and below Delta, according to the US Army. It applies where an incident or intelligence suggests terrorist action is likely. Delta applies when an attack has happened nearby or intelligence points to an imminent attack. Charlie can mean extra security personnel, enhanced identification checks and restrictions at base entrances. These measures do not necessarily mean an attack is imminent.
Why the two bases matter
The 100th Air Refueling Wing at Mildenhall flies KC-135 Stratotankers, which refuel military aircraft in flight. The base also hosts RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft, CV-22 Ospreys and MC-130J special-operations aircraft, The War Zone said. Lakenheath houses F-15E Strike Eagle and F-35A Lightning II fighters and is an important US combat-aircraft installation in Britain.
Trump’s remarks
Speaking at an unexpected press conference on Monday, Mr Trump said: “Iran militarily is effectively over. We’re just keeping it the status quo.” He gave no sign that the thousands of US troops moved to the waters off Iran would be withdrawn, and said a naval blockade to stem the flow of Iranian oil to global markets would continue. “We’re keeping it going. We have the greatest military blockade ever,” he said. He claimed Iran had been “decapitated” but said he still wanted a long-term solution to neutralise its nuclear programme.
His comments followed talks with Qatar’s prime minister, according to The Washington Post. It reported that he said there was a chance of a negotiated resolution and suggested that more US strikes were not currently needed. The Times of Israel reported that he said US forces would stay in position to protect regional allies. His statement was not an announcement of a ceasefire or a troop withdrawal.
A separate Iran-linked case in Gloucestershire
Counter Terrorism Policing said three suspicious vehicles were reported near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire at about 12.45am on 27 September. Armed officers arrested five men near Whelford. Forensic searches recovered petrol but no improvised explosive devices. A member of the public helped trigger the response. The inquiry later widened to properties in London and possible foreign-intelligence links.
On 27 October, police charged two men. Nouman Essghir, 24, of Westminster, was charged under Section 4 of the National Security Act 2023 over alleged activity on 22 August. Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim, also 24 and from Westminster, was charged under Section 3, which covers assisting a foreign intelligence service. Police said the country concerned was Iran. Five other men remained on bail. A 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national was released without charge after a further arrest but remained on bail in connection with the earlier investigation.
Counter Terrorism Policing said it considered Iranian state involvement highly likely, though investigators were still examining its extent and purpose. Iran has denied responsibility. There is no link between this case and the Suffolk reports.
