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The US military has moved at least 13 aircraft from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk following reports of a possible Iranian attack on the base.
Ten KC-135 refuelling tankers left on Monday for Germany, Spain and Scotland, while three Osprey aircraft were transferred to nearby RAF Lakenheath.
The Wall Street Journal reported that US officials ordered the evacuation after receiving intelligence about a new Iranian threat on Monday.
The nature of the warning remains unclear, and American officials have not publicly confirmed whether an attack was imminent.
Security at both Suffolk bases has reportedly been raised to Force Protection Condition Charlie, the second-highest US military alert level, which indicates that intelligence suggests some form of terrorist action is likely.
The evacuation comes as President Donald Trump seeks an agreement to end the war with Iran, saying further American strikes are unlikely but refusing to rule them out if negotiations fail.
Speaking to CNN on Sunday, Trump said another American attack was highly unlikely if Tehran agreed to a sufficiently strong deal.
He said: “It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement.”
Asked about further strikes, he added: “The answer is, highly unlikely it’s going to be necessary.”
Trump warned that the US had identified additional Iranian infrastructure it could target, including 38 bridges “that we can knock down in literally one hour”.
In a separate interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes on Sunday, Trump said he saw no reason to escalate the conflict.
He said: “Well, I’m not looking to. I don’t think there’s any reason to. I don’t think there’s any reason to.”
Trump also claimed that Iran’s military had been severely weakened.
He said: “Iran would love to make a deal. And they’ve been obliterated, their navy and their air force.”
The aircraft movements suggest American commanders remain concerned about possible Iranian retaliation, despite Trump’s efforts to reach a negotiated settlement.
RAF Mildenhall is home to the US Air Force’s 100th Air Refuelling Wing, the only permanently stationed American refuelling wing in Europe. Its KC-135 Stratotankers allow fighter jets and bombers to remain airborne for longer periods, supporting US military operations across Europe and the Middle East.
Flight-tracking data examined by CBS News showed that four tankers flew to Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, one to Ramstein Air Base, four to Morón Air Base in Spain and one to Glasgow Prestwick Airport in Scotland.
A US official told CBS News: “We take proactive measures to ensure our aircraft, our people, and our installations remain safe and secure.”
US European Command declined to explain the movements, saying aircraft were routinely transferred between installations for training and operational requirements.
A spokesman said: “Due to operations security, we will not provide further information on movement of assets.”
The alert follows the withdrawal of American B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire last month, following a suspected Iranian-linked security incident near the base.
Five men were arrested near RAF Fairford in September. Two men were subsequently charged with national security offences, including one accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service.
The base had previously been used by American bombers conducting strikes against Iran.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned in July that “any base used for aggression against Iranian territory is a legitimate target for us”.
British intelligence officials have also warned of increased Iranian espionage and threats to national security in the UK.
MI5 director-general Ken McCallum said more than 50 arrests linked to Iranian activity had been made over the past year, warning of an increase in Iranian attempts to target military installations.
US European Command launched a security campaign last week urging American military personnel and their families to take additional precautions, including varying travel routes, disabling location tracking on fitness applications and limiting information shared on social media.
American officials have not identified a specific threat behind the Europe-wide warning.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Andy Burnham said protecting military installations remained a priority, with security arrangements under review. The government is also investing more than £2 billion in air defence and counter-drone capabilities.
The Ministry of Defence said: “We do not routinely comment on the activity of other nations. Aircraft and other assets move regularly according to operational requirements.”
Cabinet minister Lucy Powell declined to discuss the aircraft movements when questioned by Sky News on Tuesday.
She said: “I can’t comment on those sort of live operations, as you know.”
She added: “But we’re constantly keeping the security of our bases under review and, as we’ve seen with other cases recently, we take firm and quick action where we need to.”
US officials have not said when the aircraft will return to RAF Mildenhall.
