IRIA News

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A visible concentration of United States military aircraft at Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport has triggered political debate and public speculation in Bulgaria, as similar deployments unfold across Europe and the Middle East.

The buildup began in the middle of last week, when multiple large U.S. Air Force aircraft were observed on the tarmac at the civilian airport and the adjacent Vrazhdebna air base.

Photographs circulating on social media showed refueling tankers and cargo planes positioned near Terminal 1, prompting questions about the purpose and timing of the deployment.

Over the weekend, reports circulated that civilian flights would be suspended during specific nighttime windows so the airport could operate exclusively for military traffic.

A Notice to Airmen confirmed restrictions on non-military operations on February 23, 2026, from 01:15 to 02:50 local time, and again on February 24, 2026, from 01:05 to 03:35. Commercial flights are not ordinarily scheduled during these hours.

Airport authorities rejected any link between the temporary closures and the presence of American aircraft. Officials stated that the suspensions were scheduled in advance to allow routine repairs of runway shafts.

The works were planned during hours with no regular commercial departures or arrivals and were carried out in accordance with international aviation standards.

Earlier notices listed slightly different time slots, some of which partially overlapped with the final schedule, contributing to speculation. Authorities stressed that the suspension applied to all flights without exception.

Defense Ministry Confirms NATO-Related Activity

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that the aircraft belongs to the U.S. Air Force. The ministry described their presence as support for “training related to NATO’s enhanced vigilance activities,” adding that American personnel were engaged solely in aircraft maintenance.

The U.S. Embassy in Sofia issued a similar statement, noting that the deployment was conducted under existing access, basing, and overflight agreements.

Acting Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynski said the Foreign Ministry had limited information and was reviewing the situation, ordering officials to collect additional details.

Bulgaria, a NATO member since 2004, maintains a Defense Cooperation Agreement with Washington signed in 2006 that permits US forces to use Bulgarian military facilities.

Types of Aircraft Observed

Aircraft observed in Sofia include KC-135 Stratotanker refueling planes, designed to supply fuel mid-air to fighter jets and other aircraft. At least six KC-135 aircraft were reportedly from the 6th Air Refueling Wing based at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.

Cargo transports such as the C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Hercules were also seen. These aircraft are capable of transporting equipment, personnel, and paratroopers over long distances. Boeing 747 aircraft, typically used for troop transport, were reportedly present as well.

The KC-135 fleet, developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype and in service since the late 1950s, has undergone multiple modernization programs to improve efficiency, communications, and navigation systems.

Analysts note that the presence of refueling aircraft is strategically significant because “flying tankers” extend the operational range of combat aircraft without requiring deployment to bases in countries bordering Iran.

Broader European and Transatlantic Movements

The activity in Sofia appears to be part of a wider U.S. military mobilization. Bulgarian investigative journalists reported that more than 120 US Air Force aircraft crossed the Atlantic within days. These reportedly included around four dozen F-16 fighter jets, three squadrons of F-35A stealth fighters, and 12 F-22 Raptors.

Similar aircraft have been tracked at bases in Spain, Italy, Greece, and the Azores. In southern Spain, local media reported that a KC-46 Pegasus tanker sustained minor damage that temporarily disrupted activity at Morón air base near Seville.

U.S. F-22 aircraft have also been staged at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom. Previous deployments of this type preceded last year’s Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Naval Deployments and Regional Posture

The air movements coincide with increased U.S. naval activity near the Middle East. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group were dispatched to the Arabian Sea. The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group recently entered the Mediterranean through Gibraltar and continued eastward.

Additional US destroyers are operating in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and near Bahrain. Fighter aircraft, including F-22, F-35, F-15, and F-18 jets, have been repositioned in Europe and the Middle East.

B-2 strategic bombers and airborne early warning aircraft such as the E-3 Sentry have also been identified in the region. Assets are stationed at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Reports indicate that more than 100 U.S. fighter jets and bombers are currently operating in proximity to Iran. American media describe the deployment as the largest regional buildup in years, though US officials have emphasized that no final political decision has been announced.

Diplomacy and Rising Speculation

The military movements have intensified speculation about a possible U.S. strike against Iran. At the same time, diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran continue.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace on February 19, President Donald Trump said he had given Tehran roughly ten days to reach a nuclear agreement, warning that “bad things will happen” if talks collapse.

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met an Iranian delegation in Geneva last week. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described agreement on a set of “guiding principles,” though significant gaps remain between the two sides.

Washington maintains that it aims to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iranian authorities insist their nuclear activities are civilian in nature and have signaled readiness for limitations in exchange for sanctions relief.

International reactions have followed. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that military escalation would carry serious risks. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that Tehran does not seek conflict but will defend its stated positions.

Separately, reports indicated that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has refused to grant Washington permission to use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and the joint US-UK facility at Diego Garcia for any potential strike on Iran.

The concentration of U.S. aircraft in Sofia, though officially described as linked to NATO training and maintenance, has become part of a broader shift in military posture across Europe and the Middle East.

While Bulgarian authorities emphasize routine procedures and alliance commitments, the timing of the deployment amid heightened regional tensions has placed Sofia unexpectedly at the center of a larger strategic narrative.