A mysterious drone was detected near a major U.S. military installation on Monday, prompting officials to raise security measures and launch an investigation.
The unmanned aerial vehicle was spotted near Barksdale Air Force Base, a critical base that houses long-range B-52 Stratofortress bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
Following the detection of the drone, base officials elevated the security level to Force Protection Condition (FPCON) Charlie, indicating a potential terrorist threat or increased risk to military personnel and facilities.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East after joint military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran. Reports from the region say more than 1,000 people were killed in the attacks, including Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Iran has previously used Shahed “kamikaze” drones and missiles to target American military bases in the region.
Authorities have not yet determined who was responsible for the drone activity, and the device’s current location remains unknown. Officials have also not confirmed whether the drone was intercepted or captured.
A spokesperson for Barksdale Air Force Base told the Daily Mail that flying an unauthorized drone over a military installation is a criminal offense under both state and federal law and may lead to significant fines or imprisonment.
The B-52 bomber, one of the most advanced aircraft in the U.S. military fleet, has a range of about 8,800 miles without refueling and can carry up to 70,000 pounds of conventional or nuclear weapons for long-range strike missions.
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