US responds to suspected drone activity over UK air base used in Iran strikes

US responds to suspected drone activity over UK air base used in Iran strikes

US Air Force personnel at the RAF Lakenheath base in Britain responded to “suspected unauthorised drone activity” on Friday evening, a US Air Force spokesperson said, adding that no personnel, aircraft or infrastructure were affected.

“We continue to work closely with our host nation counterparts to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, US and host nation civilians, contractors, and all of our families,” the spokesperson said by email.

Britain's Ministry of Defence said US Air Force Security Forces personnel had responded to reports of unauthorised drone activity and that the situation had been resolved.

In recent weeks, the US has moved bombers that had been used to strike Iran out of Britain, and relocated large refuelling aircraft from Britain to Germany. The Wall Street Journal reported that the moves were due to a threat from Iran.

The bombers left RAF Fairford on security grounds after a group of men approached the base in white vans on the night of  27 September.

Two men were charged last month in relation to that incident, with prosecutors alleging that one of them had tried to assist Iranian intelligence in Britain.

The US Justice Department said this week that a member of an Iran-backed militia had plotted to attack the Fairford base while detained in the US on criminal charges.

Tehran has denied involvement in the Fairford incident and rejected other accusations of malign activity in Britain.