UK: US military bases on alert over suspected drone sighting
What's the story
United States military bases in the United Kingdom were placed on alert after suspected unauthorized drones were spotted over the Royal Air Force's Lakenheath base. The incident occurred on Friday evening at the East Anglia-based facility, which is home to USAF airmen of the 48th Fighter Wing. No damage was reported to either RAF or USAF infrastructure due to this incident.
Official statements
We are working closely with our host nation counterparts: USAF
A spokesperson for the USAF confirmed that they responded to the incident on Friday.
"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.
Meanwhile, the UK Ministry of Defence said it is working with its US counterparts to establish facts around this incident.
Security measures
FPCON levels raised to Charlie
Reports on social media claimed that the US Armed Forces had issued a Delta alert in its Force Protection Condition (FPCON).
However, French news outlet The Nacionale reported that no such reports or official communications from the US Army confirmed this.
Instead, Reuters reported that the FPCON level at US Air Force bases in the UK had been raised to Charlie, the second-highest level.
Past events
Incident follows security breach at another airbase
This incident comes after a major security incident at RAF Fairford, another joint US-UK air force base in England.
On September 29, suspicious vans were spotted heading toward the base, prompting a large police response. UK authorities later linked this incident to an Iran-linked plot.
In light of these recent events, Downing Street has reiterated that British airbases remain safe and their security is a "top priority."