US military base in Crete played role in attacks on Iran: Greek media

ATHENS

The US military base on the Greek island of Crete played a role in the attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites, local media reported Monday.

Many of the refueling aircraft supporting the B-2 stealth bombers operated out of the Souda Bay naval base, with key phases of the operation involving air-to-air refueling over the central Mediterranean, the In news outlet reported.

According to the Daily, three KC-135 aircraft reportedly flew missions over the central Mediterranean with ADS-B transponders – devices used for broadcasting an aircraft’s location – turned off. They then returned to Souda around 5.00 am local time (0300GMT), aligning with the estimated path and return window of the B-2s.

The local Crete daily Chaniotika Nea reported that between three and six KC-135 refueling aircraft took off from Souda and fueled the B-2 bombers and possibly fighter jets as well.

“Activity at the Souda base was intense during this period, with flights clearly noticed by residents of Akrotiri and Apokoronas,” it reported.

On Monday, the Greek daily Kathimerini reported that authorities arrested an Azerbaijani national for espionage after he was caught taking photos of the naval base on Sunday.

The Daily said the suspect checked into a hotel room with a view of Souda Bay on June 18. Authorities later found he possessed approximately 5,000 files of ships entering and leaving the base.

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump said American forces bombed Iran’s Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites.

The US targeted the sites with six bunker-buster bombs dropped on the Fordo facility by B-2 stealth bombers, along with dozens of submarine-launched cruise missile strikes on the Natanz and Isfahan facilities.

The attacks marked the latest escalation in a US-backed Israeli military assault on Iran since June 13.