US forces responded to possible drone activity over a military base in Britain on Friday, a US Air Force spokesperson said. The incident at RAF Lakenheath is the latest security concern at a facility that hosts American military aircraft.
In a statement, the spokesperson said that no personnel, aircraft or infrastructure had been affected. The Air Force said it remains in close contact with its host nation partners to protect US service members, civilians, contractors and their families.
Charges over alleged plot at RAF Fairford
The drone report followed a US Justice Department announcement earlier in the week that charged three men, whom it described as “Iranian operatives,” over their alleged role in a terrorist plot at RAF Fairford, another British base. The men allegedly helped plan and direct a September incident there, which came to light after a local farmer alerted police to a group of men in several white vans acting suspiciously.
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According to a US charging document, a man named Mohammad Ali al-Hassani directed unnamed individuals to drive to the base in the vans, some of which carried barrels of fuel. He had allegedly paid the group earlier to buy metal objects that could be used as shrapnel.
US withdraws bombers and Iran threat
Days after the September incident, the United States withdrew all its B-1 bombers from the base. The US has flown military aircraft from British bases as part of its war against Iran, which was launched earlier this year with Israel.
In an interview broadcast on Wednesday, Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei threatened to strike US bases beyond the Middle East, including in Europe, if they are used for attacks against Iran.
