A fleet of at least 12 Air Force refueling tankers was observed traversing the Atlantic toward Europe, fueling speculation of a possible U.S. strike on Iran, some analysts claim.
Flight tracking data showed several KC-135R/T Stratotankers en route to RAF Mildenhall, a key U.S. airbase in England. The deployment coincides with an upcoming high-level meeting of U.S. military commanders in Quantico, Virginia.
Though no official confirmation has linked the tanker movements to offensive operations, defense watchers note the timing and scale suggest preparation for long-range missions. The Pentagon has remained silent on the exercise’s purpose.