US Refueling Planes Depart Bulgaria After Iran Expresses Anger

Two US Air Force KC-135 tanker aircraft have left Bulgaria's Bezmer air base, according to the country's defense minister. Their departure comes nearly a month after their deployment in the Balkan nation sparked anger in Iran.

Iran had declared at the time that the planes' presence constituted complicity in "aggression and war crimes." Bulgaria, however, dismissed these accusations. The United States, engaged in a conflict with Iran since February 28, had requested the temporary deployment of the aircraft under an agreement that governs the joint use of military facilities.

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all the aircraft's flights during their temporary deployment had been training missions over allied countries and that Bulgaria had “no information about direct threats to our national security.”

The deployment of the two planes, approved by the Bulgarian parliament on July 22, also led to protests from local residents who feared potential attacks from Iran. Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov assured reporters that all flights conducted by the aircraft during their temporary stay were training missions over allied countries. He added that Bulgaria had "no information about direct threats to our national security."

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We are working in full coordination with ⁠the US government and had prior information, which is why all our decisions were well-founded.

Stoyanov emphasized that Bulgaria was working in full coordination with the US government and had received prior information, ensuring that all decisions were well-founded. Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported, citing two Iranian regime insiders, that Iran has been considering ways to broaden the confrontation beyond the Middle East if Washington escalates military actions. The sources indicated that Tehran would place "no limits" on its response and had assessed possible strikes against US assets in southeastern Europe, including Bulgaria.

In response to these reports, a NATO official stated that the alliance is prepared to address any threat and will take necessary measures to defend all allies. The official also noted that NATO air defenses had successfully intercepted ballistic missiles heading to Türkiye from Iran on four separate occasions earlier in the year, demonstrating a strong deterrence and defense posture.

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Iran has allegedly weighed attacking US military targets in Europe should Donald Trump escalate the war.