Mystery fleet of US Air Force tankers crossing Atlantic stirs echoes of Iran strike

Flight trackers have spotted a fleet of US air tankers crossing the Atlantic just as Donald Trump prepares to meet with generals and admirals on Tuesday.

Around a dozen KC-135R/T Stratotankers were making the journey on Sunday night, with several en route to RAF Mildenhall - a major Air Force base in England, open-source intelligence (OSINT) accounts reported on X.

The presence of air tankers can indicate that the US or Nato is addressing an urgent military requirement for fighter jet refueling capacity.  

The deployment carries ominous weight, according to three Defense Department sources - two former, one current - who spoke to the Daily Mail on condition of anonymity.

The last time the US moved tankers in comparable numbers was five days before American warplanes struck Iran's nuclear facilities. Trump is meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday.