The US Air Force says unexplained drone sightings near UK military bases are continuing

The US Air Force on Tuesday said there were more seeing drones flying near bases used by the US military in the United Kingdom, he added that it had not been identified as hostile.

“We can confirm that there were sightings yesterday (Monday) during the night hours and we can only confirm that the number fluctuated, and varied between bases at night,” said a spokesperson for the USAF in Europe in a statement sent to Agence France-Presse 100th Air Refueling Wing, based at the Royal Air Force base in Mildenhall. , in the east of England.

Mildenhall is one of three bases where drones have been spotted intermittently since November 20. The other two are nearby RAF Lakenheath and RAF Feltwell.

The USAF said in a statement on Monday that “small unmanned aircraft systems were observed near Royal Air Force Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell between Nov. 20 and Nov. 24.”

The drones varied in size and configuration, it added. In an update on Tuesday, the USAF said there was no impact on base residents or infrastructure, and that the drones “have not been identified as hostile.”

“However, they are still being closely monitored to ensure the safety and security of this installation,” he added.

“I can confirm that the situation is ongoing and our units continue to monitor the airspace and work with host country authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of personnel, facilities and assets,” said a spokesperson for the US Air Forces in Europe. CBS News on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the UK Ministry of Defense said it had taken the threats “very seriously” and supported the USAF's response.

While no organization or third nation has been named as a possible source of the unexplained drones, several major US adversaries, including Russia and Iran, have been accused of increasing their capabilities. espionage and sabotage operations in Europe this year.

US fighter jets based at Lakenheath were part of the American effort to help shoot down the ground missiles launched by Iran at Israel on April 13 – the first two Iranian missile attacks in Israel this year.

Tensions between Russia and the US and Britain were also very high during this period war in Ukrainewith British fighter jets crashed only a week and a half ago a Russian surveillance plane was spotted flying close to UK airspace. That came a few days later NATO aircraft were mobilized when Russian planes were seen over the Baltic Sea and off the coast of Norway.

contributed to this report.