Bulgaria approves US tanker aircraft deployment at Bezmer Base despite Iranian warning

On July 22, 2026, Bulgaria's parliament voted 136 to 13, with two abstentions, to approve the temporary stationing of up to eight U.S. KC-135 tanker aircraft and 250 military personnel at Bezmer Air Base from July 24 to October 1, 2026. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei warned that allowing Bulgarian territory or military facilities to support U.S. operations against Iran would make Sofia complicit in what he described as aggression and war crimes. Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said no offensive weapons would be deployed and that the temporary presence would not make Bulgaria a party to the military actions. Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the aircraft would perform logistical missions, with refueling taking place outside Bulgarian airspace. Bulgarian diplomat Lyubomir Kyuchukov said the deployment's declared purpose was to provide logistical support for U.S. strikes on Iran, contrasting it with earlier deployments connected to NATO exercises. Five mayors near Bezmer filed complaints citing security concerns.

US tanker deployment at Bezmer

• ▪Bulgaria's parliament voted 136 to 13, with two abstentions, on July 22, 2026, to authorize the temporary stationing of up to eight American KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft and 250 military personnel at Bezmer Air Base.
• ▪The deployment is based on a bilateral defense cooperation agreement between Bulgaria and the United States that has been in place since 2006.
• ▪The planned deployment of the United States KC-135 aircraft and personnel at Bezmer Air Base is scheduled to run from July 24 through October 1, 2026.

Iranian complicity warning to Bulgaria

• ▪Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei warned that allowing Bulgarian territory or military facilities to be used to support U.S. operations against Iran would make Sofia complicit in what he described as aggression and war crimes.
• ▪Iran previously sent Bulgaria a diplomatic note in April 2026 cautioning against allowing United States military aircraft to use Bulgarian airports for operations targeting Iran.

Bulgarian parliamentary approval process

• ▪The Bulgarian National Assembly's Defense Committee backed the deployment proposal with 11 votes in favor, one against, and two abstentions prior to the full parliamentary vote.
• ▪Five mayors of towns surrounding the Bezmer Air Base filed complaints against the deployment plan, citing local security concerns.

Middle East operations support role

• ▪Bulgarian diplomat Lyubomir Kyuchukov stated that the deployment's declared purpose is to provide logistical support for United States strikes on Iran, differing from previous deployments for NATO exercises.
• ▪Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the KC-135 aircraft were intended solely for logistical missions, with refueling to take place outside Bulgarian airspace, and said military operations in the Middle East would not be conducted from Bulgarian territory.

NATO member conflict involvement

• ▪The United States and Iran have intensified military strikes following the collapse of an interim ceasefire agreement signed in June 2026.
• ▪Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov stated that a military intelligence assessment identified certain risks but found no direct threat to Bulgarian national security.