> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.adriadefense.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # US KC-135 Tankers Leave Bulgaria’s Bezmer Air Base - URL: https://www.adriadefense.com/us-kc-135-tankers-leave-bulgarias-bezmer-air-base/ - Published: 2026-08-22T19:35:20.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-22T19:35:20.000Z - Description: Two US KC-135 tankers have left Bulgaria’s Bezmer Air Base after a deployment linked to support for US operations in the Middle East. - Author: AdriaDefense Desk - Tags: Bulgaria, CEE, NATO, United States, Industry Two United States Air Force tanker aircraft have left Bulgaria’s Bezmer Air Base, ending their presence less than a month after arriving under a deployment authorized to support US operations in the Middle East. Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov confirmed on August 22 that the aircraft departed the country on Friday. The two aircraft arrived at Bezmer on July 31\. Their deployment followed a Bulgarian parliamentary decision that authorized up to eight Boeing KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft, their crews, up to 250 US military personnel, and associated airfield equipment at the southeastern Bulgarian base. The authorization remains valid from July 24 through October 1, 2026, although the departure of the two aircraft means the tankers currently deployed under the arrangement have left Bulgaria. Stoyanov said Bulgaria coordinated closely with the US government during the deployment and had advance information concerning the aircraft’s activities. According to the defense minister, the tankers conducted training flights over allied countries west and northwest of Bulgaria. He said the aircraft did not fly south from Bulgaria and did not conduct missions supporting combat operations from Bulgarian territory. ## Bulgaria authorized up to eight KC-135 tankers at Bezmer Bulgaria’s National Assembly approved the temporary US deployment on July 22 by 136 votes in favor, 13 against and two abstentions. The decision specifically authorized up to eight KC-135 aircraft, their crews, up to 250 armed US service members and supporting airfield equipment. The parliamentary authorization stated that the forces would support US operations in the Middle East. Implementation did not require additional expenditure beyond Bulgaria’s approved 2026 defense budget. The US request had reached Sofia through a diplomatic note on June 17 under the framework of the 2006 Defense Cooperation Agreement between Bulgaria and the United States. Bezmer is one of the Bulgarian military facilities available for joint use with US forces under that agreement. Located in southeastern Bulgaria near Yambol, the air base provides Washington with access to military infrastructure on NATO’s southeastern flank and relatively close to the Black Sea, Turkey and routes toward the Eastern Mediterranean. The Bulgarian government maintained throughout the deployment that combat operations against targets in the Middle East would not be launched from Bulgarian territory. Sofia described the KC-135 presence as logistical support involving aerial refueling outside Bulgarian airspace. ## Deployment drew Iranian objections and local protests The deployment attracted diplomatic attention because it coincided with US military operations in the Middle East and heightened tensions with Iran. Iran objected to the use of Bulgarian territory for activities connected to US operations. Bulgarian officials responded that the deployment did not represent hostile action by Sofia against Iran and that direct military strikes would not originate from Bulgarian territory. The issue also generated opposition around Bezmer and nearby communities in the Yambol region. Residents organized protests after the deployment was announced, while Bulgarian government officials met local mayors to address security concerns. The first two US aircraft arrived at Bezmer on July 31\. Despite parliamentary authorization for as many as eight KC-135s, publicly available Bulgarian information confirmed the arrival of those two aircraft rather than the full authorized contingent. Their departure on August 21 therefore closes the operational phase of the deployment that had been publicly confirmed so far, although the parliamentary authorization itself runs until October 1. ## Bezmer highlights Bulgaria’s role on NATO’s southeastern flank The deployment demonstrated how Bulgarian military infrastructure can support US operations extending beyond NATO’s immediate eastern flank. Aerial refueling aircraft are particularly important for sustaining long-range air operations because they allow combat, surveillance and support aircraft to remain airborne longer and operate farther from their permanent bases. The KC-135 Stratotanker remains one of the US Air Force’s principal aerial refueling platforms. For Bulgaria, the deployment also illustrated the political constraints attached to providing infrastructure for operations outside the immediate NATO area. Sofia approved the US request while repeatedly separating the logistical role of Bezmer from direct participation in combat operations. The episode also placed Bulgaria’s bilateral defense relationship with the United States in a wider strategic context. Infrastructure originally developed for allied training and regional cooperation can provide staging and support capacity for US forces operating between Europe, the Black Sea region and the Middle East. The departure of the two tankers reduces the immediate US aerial refueling presence at Bezmer. Bulgaria’s authorization for the broader deployment, however, remains in force through October 1, leaving the legal framework available for additional US aircraft and personnel during that period. ## Questions about the US KC-135 deployment in Bulgaria ### Why were US KC-135 tankers deployed to Bulgaria? Bulgaria authorized the aircraft to operate from Bezmer Air Base in support of US operations in the Middle East. Bulgarian officials said their activities from the country involved logistical and training functions rather than combat missions launched from Bulgarian territory. ### How many US KC-135 aircraft did Bulgaria authorize? The Bulgarian parliament authorized up to eight KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft, their crews, up to 250 US military personnel and associated airfield equipment. Two aircraft were publicly confirmed as arriving at Bezmer on July 31. ### When did the US tankers leave Bezmer Air Base? The two US tanker aircraft left Bezmer Air Base and Bulgaria on August 21, 2026, according to Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov. ### Can US tanker aircraft return to Bezmer? The parliamentary authorization covers the period from July 24 through October 1, 2026\. The approved framework therefore remains in effect after the departure of the two aircraft, although Bulgarian authorities have not announced another deployment under the authorization.