The first two of the eight planned U.S. Air Force tanker aircraft have arrived at Bulgaria's Bezmer Air Base as part of a temporary deployment approved by the National Assembly under the country's defense commitments to the United States.
The deployment includes both the aircraft and accompanying U.S. military personnel and follows parliament's approval on July 22 after an urgent request from Washington. Under the adopted resolution, up to eight tanker aircraft and as many as 250 U.S. service members, equipped with personal weapons, military equipment and ammunition, may be stationed at the base until October 1, 2026. The mission is intended to provide logistical support for U.S. operations in the Middle East.
Residents of Bezmer offered mixed reactions after the aircraft arrived. One local resident said, "I haven't heard officially that the planes have arrived, but from what people are saying, they were expected within two or three days. I can't say anything more." Another citizen commented, "I think they have arrived, but I haven't seen them myself. That's just what I've heard from people passing by." A third resident said, "People say two are already here, but we don't know about the rest yet. It seems there are two."
