# Recent U.S. military air movements into the United Kingdom indicate a redeployment of American special forces into Europe, following a period of heightened operational activity linked to events in Venezuela, UK Defence Journal understands.
Flight tracking data shows an increase in U.S. Air Force strategic airlift activity, including multiple C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft arriving at RAF Fairford, alongside the arrival of two AC-130 gunships at RAF Mildenhall. Approximately ten C-17 movements have been observed over a short period, with most flights originating from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.
While MH-47 Chinook helicopters have not been directly observed at RAF Fairford, several of the C-17 movements are assessed to have transported U.S. Army rotary-wing assets. The aircraft types involved, combined with departure locations and routing patterns, are consistent with the movement of special operations aviation units. Open-source imagery and flight data suggest likely involvement of assets associated with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
The formations typically linked to these bases include units routinely tasked with rapid-response and high-risk missions, such as elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment, the 101st Airborne Division, and 160th SOAR. These forces are commonly employed for short-notice contingency operations, including the capture or extraction of high-value individuals, supported by strategic airlift and specialised aviation platforms.
RAF Fairford has drawn particular attention due to its established role as a key U.S. strategic air bridge into Europe. Similar increases in C-17 activity at the base were observed ahead of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025.
The movements follow President Donald Trump’s confirmation that Nicolás Maduro was captured during a U.S. operation in Venezuela and removed from the country. Washington has not disclosed which units were involved in that operation, and it remains unclear whether the forces now transiting through the UK are directly linked or are part of a broader post-operation repositioning. At the time of writing, neither U.S. nor UK authorities have commented publicly on the intent or duration of the deployments.
GetNooted on
Must be coming to abduct Kier and take over UK fracking
Thebritishlion on
Be interesting to see where they transit onwards to, can’t imagine they’ll be staying here long
Douglesfield_ on
Fucking hell the Tangerine has probably told them to take Georgia back.
Hocus-Pocus-No-Focus on
If Trump manages to kidnap Putin then all is forgiven 😂
olderlifter99 on
I see a lot of comments in other subs about how the UK should tell the US to sod off. We must appreciate that, med to long term, we cant. We are dependent on tne US for many aspects around nuclear weapons and nuclear subs.
DarrenTheDrunk on
This sort of movement happens all the time, wouldn’t get to excited by it.
SadWorld1397 on
Going to kidnap the president of the EU.
…. because, this is the stupid world we live in now.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Dry-Clock-8934 on
The fact they are openly moving with transponders on the same day they took out Maduro is a message. Probably to Putin or similar. Rubio said in his speech the President doesn’t mess around. They’re sending a message
hitanthrope on
“We have taken the unusual step of informing the world what we are doing with our special forces a day or two after effortlessly rocking up and snatching a world leader. This isolated, one off event, is purely in the interests of public transparency”
…Ok, should I do one in Russian now? Not sure the guy speaks English….
yadasellsavonmate on
The Yanks coming to regain influence back from the Chinese and Soros. Can’t be letting the UK fall under their influence.
No_Chicken1614 on
Whilst the orange shit stain on humanity is in charge it would be nice to close uk airspace to the us cowboys
richardbaxter on
If they’re headed to Ukraine I’m somewhat nervous they’re off to help Putin.Â
ucardiologist on
It looks like the tangerine guy has got very pissed off because Putin lied to him about attacks on his home. Now he wants to show him what an attack on Putin home would look like.
Spamgrenade on
Wow, Russian bots are having a field day on this post.
SituationThink3487 on
If Starmer had even a single vertebrae of backbone he would not allow the US to use our country like this after his illegal attack on Venezuela.
But alas Starmer has no spine, and we’re doomed to just be the US’ vassal state in Europe.
ScottOld on
Why don’t they just pluck putin…. oh yea nothing to gain from that
dave_the_dr on
Because of the threat to Greenland we really should be more wary of more American troops into Europe and we as the UK should certainly be avoiding any semblance of complicity should that shit go down
18 Comments
# Recent U.S. military air movements into the United Kingdom indicate a redeployment of American special forces into Europe, following a period of heightened operational activity linked to events in Venezuela, UK Defence Journal understands.
Flight tracking data shows an increase in U.S. Air Force strategic airlift activity, including multiple C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft arriving at RAF Fairford, alongside the arrival of two AC-130 gunships at RAF Mildenhall. Approximately ten C-17 movements have been observed over a short period, with most flights originating from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.
While MH-47 Chinook helicopters have not been directly observed at RAF Fairford, several of the C-17 movements are assessed to have transported U.S. Army rotary-wing assets. The aircraft types involved, combined with departure locations and routing patterns, are consistent with the movement of special operations aviation units. Open-source imagery and flight data suggest likely involvement of assets associated with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
The formations typically linked to these bases include units routinely tasked with rapid-response and high-risk missions, such as elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment, the 101st Airborne Division, and 160th SOAR. These forces are commonly employed for short-notice contingency operations, including the capture or extraction of high-value individuals, supported by strategic airlift and specialised aviation platforms.
RAF Fairford has drawn particular attention due to its established role as a key U.S. strategic air bridge into Europe. Similar increases in C-17 activity at the base were observed ahead of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025.
The movements follow President Donald Trump’s confirmation that Nicolás Maduro was captured during a U.S. operation in Venezuela and removed from the country. Washington has not disclosed which units were involved in that operation, and it remains unclear whether the forces now transiting through the UK are directly linked or are part of a broader post-operation repositioning. At the time of writing, neither U.S. nor UK authorities have commented publicly on the intent or duration of the deployments.
Must be coming to abduct Kier and take over UK fracking
Be interesting to see where they transit onwards to, can’t imagine they’ll be staying here long
Fucking hell the Tangerine has probably told them to take Georgia back.
If Trump manages to kidnap Putin then all is forgiven 😂
I see a lot of comments in other subs about how the UK should tell the US to sod off. We must appreciate that, med to long term, we cant. We are dependent on tne US for many aspects around nuclear weapons and nuclear subs.
This sort of movement happens all the time, wouldn’t get to excited by it.
Going to kidnap the president of the EU.
…. because, this is the stupid world we live in now.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
The fact they are openly moving with transponders on the same day they took out Maduro is a message. Probably to Putin or similar. Rubio said in his speech the President doesn’t mess around. They’re sending a message
“We have taken the unusual step of informing the world what we are doing with our special forces a day or two after effortlessly rocking up and snatching a world leader. This isolated, one off event, is purely in the interests of public transparency”
…Ok, should I do one in Russian now? Not sure the guy speaks English….
The Yanks coming to regain influence back from the Chinese and Soros. Can’t be letting the UK fall under their influence.
Whilst the orange shit stain on humanity is in charge it would be nice to close uk airspace to the us cowboys
If they’re headed to Ukraine I’m somewhat nervous they’re off to help Putin.Â
It looks like the tangerine guy has got very pissed off because Putin lied to him about attacks on his home. Now he wants to show him what an attack on Putin home would look like.
Wow, Russian bots are having a field day on this post.
If Starmer had even a single vertebrae of backbone he would not allow the US to use our country like this after his illegal attack on Venezuela.
But alas Starmer has no spine, and we’re doomed to just be the US’ vassal state in Europe.
Why don’t they just pluck putin…. oh yea nothing to gain from that
Because of the threat to Greenland we really should be more wary of more American troops into Europe and we as the UK should certainly be avoiding any semblance of complicity should that shit go down