Following the departure of two United States Air Force (USAF) Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers from Bulgaria's Bezmer airbase, a village in southeastern Bulgaria, relief has been expressed by locals. The planes, which were stationed to aid Washington's potential conflict with Iran, left on August 7th to support "other operational requirements," according to the US Air Force. However, geopolitical tensions remain, as fears persist that Bezmer could be drawn into a US-Israeli war against Iran. These concerns were heightened by reports suggesting that Iranian forces had considered striking US assets in southeastern European countries like Bulgaria, should Washington escalate its confrontation with Tehran. The village, home to around 1,000 people, has long been accustomed to military aircraft due to the presence of Bulgarian military bases, but the recent deployment of up to eight USAF Stratotankers and 250 personnel in late July caused widespread unease among residents. Protests and petitions were organized against the deployment, with locals fearing their village would become a target. Despite assurances from the Bulgarian government that military intelligence had identified no threat, residents remain apprehensive, expressing concerns about potential attacks and collateral damage. The mayor of Bezmer, Rosen Rusev, reported a sense of relief among villagers upon learning of the planes' departure, with locals feeling their voices were finally heard. However, tensions persist as geopolitical tensions continue to simmer.