Two U.S. Air Force KC-135 tanker aircraft departed Bulgaria’s Bezmer air base on Friday, the country’s defense minister announced Saturday.
The temporary deployment, approved by Bulgaria’s parliament on July 22, drew criticism from Iran, which called it complicity in "aggression and war crimes." Bulgarian officials dismissed the claim, stating there were no direct threats to national security during the aircraft’s stay.
Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said all flights were training missions over allied countries and emphasized full coordination with the U.S. government. Protests had erupted nearby over fears of potential Iranian retaliation.
The planes’ exit follows a month of heightened regional tensions tied to their presence.
