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The US Air Force reported it reacted to what was described as “suspected unauthorised drone activity” over RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk on Friday evening. According to a spokesperson for the US Air Force, no damage or impact occurred to personnel, aircraft, or base infrastructure during the incident.
Local residents from a nearby village mentioned hearing sirens, which reportedly sounded at the base amid the event. A Ministry of Defence representative confirmed to the BBC that they were “coordinating with all relevant parties,” and stated that US Air Force security teams responded swiftly and resolved the situation. They added, “We are working closely with them to establish the facts.” West Suffolk MP Nick Timothy also spoke with base officials and relayed that “there is no threat to the public, and the incident is now resolved.” On social media, he encouraged vigilance due to the raised threat level, urging people to report anything suspicious.
Earlier in the week, several US Air Force planes departed from the RAF Mildenhall base, located nearby. Among these were two Boeing Stratotanker KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft, with one reportedly en route to Germany and the other observed landing at Prestwick Airport near Glasgow.
Heightened security measures have been in place at US installations in the UK following an incident at RAF Fairford in September. Prime Minister Andy Burnham indicated that Iran was involved in that episode. Police investigations found petrol but no explosives in vans near the base. Two men have been charged in connection with the event by the Crown Prosecution Service. Despite Iran’s denial of responsibility, the US removed all its bombers from RAF Fairford in October. Although the Wall Street Journal reported that the recent aircraft movement from RAF Mildenhall was a response to another Iranian threat, the BBC has not verified this claim independently. Meanwhile, Downing Street reaffirmed that British airbases remain secure and that maintaining their safety is a “top priority.” RAF Lakenheath is home to the US Air Force’s 48th Fighter Wing, known as the Liberty Wing, which comprises nearly 7,000 active-duty personnel and includes four combat-ready fighter squadrons, making it the largest US fighter operation in Europe
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