“The US Air Force tanker aircraft left Bezmer Air Base and departed Bulgaria on Friday,” Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov told reporters while attending the commemoration of the 149th anniversary of the Battle of Shipka at Shipka Peak. The national commemoration was held under the auspices of President Iliana Iotova.

“During these days, we have been working in close coordination with the U.S. government. We had advance information, and our decisions were based on clear and accurate information, not on conspiracy theories,” Stoyanov added.

According to him, during the aircraft’s stay at Bezmer, all flights were conducted for training purposes over the airspace of allied countries—to the west and northwest, rather than to the south, “unlike the exercise conducted with 15 aircraft at Vasil Levski Airport, when all flights were in support of combat operations.”

“There is no point in talking about threats. There are no aircraft here, and we have never had any other information about direct threats to our national security. I confirm that once again,” the minister added.

Bezmer Air Base, located approximately 10 kilometers west of Yambol, is one of four military facilities in Bulgaria designated for joint use with the US.

On July 22, Bulgaria’s National Assembly authorized the deployment in Bulgaria of up to eight KC-135 military aircraft, together with their crews, up to 250 US military personnel carrying personal weapons and ammunition, and airfield equipment from the U.S. armed forces. They were to provide support for US operations in the Middle East and be stationed at Bezmer Air Base from July 24 through October 1, 2026.