U.S. Tankers Depart Bulgaria Amid Tensions with Iran

U.S. military refueling planes have departed from Bulgaria following statements from Iranian officials criticizing their presence. The two KC-135 tankers were stationed at Bezmer air base after receiving parliamentary approval for their deployment on July 22, as reported by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).

The aircraft left the base on Friday, which is nearly a month after a warning issued by Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson. This warning was highlighted by Iranian state media.

According to BTA, the operation concluded about six weeks earlier than planned. Bulgaria’s parliament had authorized the use of up to eight KC-135 planes, along with up to 250 accompanying personnel, to assist U.S. missions in the Middle East from July 24 to October 1.

The tanks had only been in Bulgaria for about three weeks after arriving on July 31, as stated by the Bulgarian Defense Ministry.

Antoniya Aleksieva, the first secretary at the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington, noted that the deployment was rooted in a Defense Cooperation Agreement established in 2006, which allows shared usage of Bulgarian military facilities, including Bezmer.

Both the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and the Bulgarian Defense Ministry did not reply to requests for comments. A U.S. Air Force spokesperson confirmed the departure of the KC-135s, emphasizing that U.S. military aircraft frequently operate in allied nations, including Bulgaria, and expressed appreciation for Bulgaria’s collaboration in regional security.

Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov downplayed any notion that the tankers were involved in combat against Iran, stating that they only conducted training missions over allied territories rather than flights heading south. He mentioned that their operational decisions were based on solid information rather than speculation.

Stoyanov indicated that Bulgaria had received no alerts hinting at a direct threat from the aircraft’s deployment at Bezmer. He contrasted this with an earlier deployment of U.S. aircraft at Sofia Airport, which engaged in support for combat operations.

Iran had cautioned Bulgaria against permitting U.S. military operations on its soil, arguing that any country aiding such efforts would share in the responsibility for the repercussions. Iranian officials expressed hope that the Bulgarian parliament would not authorize such actions, further emphasizing Bulgaria’s potential complicity with aggressors.

The U.S. Air Force also reassured that they remain prepared to counter potential regional threats while ensuring the safety of their personnel and surrounding communities.

In response to the situation, residents in Bezmer had protested the deployment by initiating a petition that garnered over 3,200 signatures from local villages, indicating significant community concern about the U.S. presence.