Civilian flights were suspended at Sofia International Airport as U.S. military aircraft staged at the NATO member’s main airport. Data from Flightradar24 showed temporary pauses in non-military operations while aerial refueling tankers, C-17 and C-130 cargo planes, and large transport aircraft lined the runway. Bulgaria’s Defense Ministry said the deployment is linked to NATO’s Enhanced Vigilance Activities training missions. However, the timing has fueled speculation of U.S. positioning amid heightened tensions between Donald Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, raising questions about broader regional escalation.
