The US Air Force said it responded to suspected unauthorised drone activity at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, England, on Friday evening, and that no personnel, aircraft or infrastructure were affected. The RAF Lakenheath drone reports come at a time when the base is already under heightened attention, according to earlier reporting.
According to the Guardian, sirens were heard at RAF Lakenheath, one of several UK airbases used by the US military. The Straits Times said the US Air Force spokesperson placed the response on the evening of Nov 13.
A UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson said USAF security forces responded to the reports and that the situation is now resolved, according to the Guardian. The spokesperson said the MoD is working with the USAF to establish the facts.
West Suffolk MP Nick Timothy said base authorities had told him there is no threat to the public and that the incident is now resolved, the Guardian reported.
The British Ministry of Defence was not immediately available for comment to the Straits Times, so its fuller response is reported only by the Guardian. The sources do not describe the drone activity, where it came from, or who was operating any drones. No source explains the cause of the sirens. Apart from official and MP statements, no independent confirmation that the situation is resolved has been reported.
For context, RAF Lakenheath said in September that it was on "Charlie alert", the second-highest threat level the US Department of Defense can issue, according to the Guardian. The base is home to the 48th fighter wing, with almost 7,000 active-duty personnel, making it the largest US fighter operation in Europe, according to the official base website, as reported by the Guardian.
Earlier, the US moved bombers from RAF Fairford on security grounds after men approached the base in white vans. Two men were charged, and prosecutors allege one tried to assist Iranian intelligence, according to the Straits Times and the Guardian. No source links the drone reports at Lakenheath to Iran or any other party.
The UK Ministry of Defence says it will provide updates in due course as it works with the USAF to establish the facts.
Sources
This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.