Residents of the Bulgarian villages surrounding Bezmer Air Base are stepping up their opposition to the planned deployment of U.S. military personnel and aircraft after Parliament approved the move, with local officials warning that people fear the area could become a potential target amid tensions in the Middle East.
Vanya Peneva, mayor of Bolyarsko, one of the closest settlements to the air base, told Bulgarian National Radio that local residents are deeply concerned by the decision.
"Our residents are really worried. We don't want these planes at Bezmer Airport. We want peace and security for our families. Our homes are here, and we are raising our children here," she said.
Peneva noted that Bolyarsko lies even closer to the air base than the village of Bezmer itself, with the settlement located about one kilometer from the airport. Although residents have long been accustomed to the noise generated by military aircraft, she said the latest deployment has created a different kind of anxiety.
"People are very stressed," she said, adding that she first learned about the government's decision through social media.
