US Tankers Quietly Leave Bulgaria After Deployment Enraged Iran

August 24, 2026 2:58 PM ET U.S. refueling aircraft left Bulgaria after Iranian officials made statements condemning the deployment of the American aircraft.The two U.S. Air Force KC-135 tankers were deployed to Bulgaria’s Bezmer air base after Bulgaria’s parliament approved the deployment on July 22, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) reported. The aircraft left the Bulgarian air base on Friday, nearly a month after Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson threatened Bulgaria, according to Iranian state media outlet PressTV.The deployment was cut roughly six weeks short, according to BTA. Bulgaria’s parliament authorized the deployment of up to eight KC-135 tankers, their crews, up to 250 U.S. military personnel carrying personal weapons and ammunition and related airfield equipment at Bezmer fro