The US military evacuated at least a dozen aircraft from a second RAF airbase following a threat from Iran.
On Monday, nine US air force refuelling planes were scrambled from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk on Monday, flying to other bases in the UK, Germany and Spain.
Three V-22 Ospreys, used by American special forces, were also withdrawn to the neighbouring RAF Lakenheath, where they can be stored in fortified hangars.
The sudden evacuation has been described as ‘extraordinarily unusual’ by a former RAF chief.
It follows a similar exodus of bombers from RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, last month after an alleged Iranian terror plot was foiled.
The exact nature of the latest threat is not yet known and the issue is currently being assessed by US officials, the Wall Street Journal reported.
However, RAF Lakenheath shared a drone warning on Monday, urging locals and those living on the base to report sightings ‘immediately’ to security staff or police.
Mildenhall and Lakenheath have since raised their security to ‘Force Protection Condition Charlie’, the second-highest threat level, which is used when intelligence suggests a terrorist attack is likely.
The Conservatives have accused Labour of having its ‘head in the sand’ over the threat posed by Iran.
Downing Street has since hit back, insisting British air bases are safe and their security is a ‘top priority’.
