Two U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft departed Bezmer Air Base in Bulgaria on Friday following criticism of their presence by the Iranian government. Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov reported on Saturday that the Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers conducted training flights during their stay in the southeastern region of the country.
The deployment was part of the U.S. military's Operation Epic Fury, which Bulgaria's parliament approved on July 22. The legislative authorization allowed for U.S. aircraft and military personnel to operate from the joint-use facility between July 24 and the end of September. The U.S. Air Force stated on Monday that the tankers left to support "other operational requirements" and noted that military aircraft routinely transit through Allied nations under established basing agreements.
Iran criticized the temporary deployment, claiming Bulgaria would be complicit in "aggression and war crimes" by hosting the tankers. This diplomatic friction follows a separate announcement in late May by Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who stated the country would end the stay of U.S. military aircraft at Vasil Levski Sofia Airport at the end of June. That decision followed the Trump administration's refusal to grant visa-free travel for Bulgarian visitors to the U.S.
For the residents and workers at Bezmer Air Base, the departure means a reduction in the tempo of training flights and joint maneuvers that had been authorized through the end of next month. On a broader scale, the incident highlights the regulatory requirements for the U.S. military in Bulgaria, where parliament must grant specific approval every time a joint-use facility is used for a new purpose. This process ensures that Bulgarian lawmakers maintain direct oversight of foreign military footprints within their borders, impacting how quickly the U.S. can move assets into the Balkan region.
The knock-on effects of these deployments have extended into civilian policy, specifically regarding international travel rights. Prime Minister Radev’s previous decision to end U.S. aircraft access at Sofia’s main airport was linked to a dispute over visa-free travel for the roughly 6.5 million citizens of Bulgaria. What happens next depends on the status of Operation Epic Fury and any future requests for temporary deployment. With the current parliamentary approval set to expire at the end of September, any return of U.S. aircraft to Bezmer would require a new vote by the Bulgarian legislature.