"Hundreds of nationalists stormed the area outside Bulgaria's Council of Ministers in Sofia on Monday, demanding the immediate removal of American military aircraft and rejecting their country's involvement in the escalating Middle East conflict. Footage shows protesters holding banners reading 'No to war against Iran' in front of Bulgaria’s parliament in Sofia. Demonstrators waved Bulgarian flags and chanted 'NATO out!' while demanding ‘Unwanted US planes to leave Bulgaria immediately!' "American planes should get out of our territory. We have nothing to gain; we have a lot to lose from this whole situation. We shouldn't wait for missiles to start falling before we react," said protester Deyan Nikolov. Crowds chanted 'NATO out!' while waving Bulgarian flags and holding banners reading 'No to war against Iran', listening to speeches. "Now in Sofia, there are more American soldiers than Bulgarian ones […] Which war did we lose now, that we are occupied?" Vazrazhdane party member Kostadin Kostadinov told the crowd. Demonstrator, Georgi Dimov, expressing fears of wider instability, said, "We are already a territory […] subject to destruction, nothing more." Demonstrators also argued that the presence of US forces has turned the country into a potential target due to rising tensions with Iran. "The pink reptiles were telling us that after Ukraine, we are next on Russia's list. Is there anyone here who thinks that Russia will bomb Bulgaria?" asked Yanko Peltechki. According to reports, 15 US aircraft are currently stationed at Sofia Airport, accompanied by their own tankers, de-icing vehicles and full ground support equipment. The planes, Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers, are aerial refuelling aircraft used to supply combat jets mid-air for logistical, rather than direct combat, purposes. The Ministry of Defence has previously stated that the American deployment is linked to logistical and training support under NATO’s enhanced vigilance measures. It added that the personnel on site are tasked with aircraft maintenance and servicing, not combat operations. The protest is part of a broader global anti-war movement following US and Israel strikes on Iran on Saturday morning. Tehran said it was responding with strikes on Israel and US assets in the region, with strikes reported in countries right across the Gulf region.  On Sunday, Donald Trump confirmed that three US military personnel were killed and admitted that more deaths were 'likely' on the American side. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was confirmed killed in a strike on Saturday. "