What Happened
US Military Build-Up in Middle East Sparks Airport Closure
Sofia International Airport in Bulgaria will be closed to civilian traffic on February 23-24, 2026, due to ‘runway closure due to work in progress’. However, the closure is widely suspected to be connected to the US military build-up in the Middle East, with several US Air Force aircraft arriving in Sofia in recent days. The airport’s military side, Vrazhdebna Air Base, has been used by US aircraft, including KC-135R/T Stratotankers and F-22 fighters, which have been spotted transiting from the US to bases in Europe and the Middle East. The intended target of this assembled fleet is believed to be Iran, with rumors swirling about a potential renewal of attacks on the Iranian regime’s nuclear facilities. This development was first reported by AeroTime.