US prosecutors indict Iranian operative over foiled RAF Fairford attack

US federal prosecutors have indicted Mohammad Dawood al‑Saadi, a dual Iranian and Iraqi national, accusing him of planning an attack on the RAF Fairford air base in England. The base, which hosts American B‑1 bombers, was the target of a plot that was thwarted in September, according to The Guardian.

The indictment alleges that al‑Saadi coordinated the scheme while in US custody, using coded messages in phone calls to his family to relay instructions to two co‑conspirators. Those instructions included purchasing large quantities of chemicals that could be used to make explosives for the attack.

Prosecutors say the operative’s communications and the subsequent procurement of materials demonstrate a concerted effort to strike a strategic military installation on UK soil. The case highlights cooperation between US authorities and their allies in disrupting a cross‑border terrorism network.

Why it matters

The indictment shows how US law enforcement is intervening to prevent attacks on allied military sites, underscoring the transnational nature of the threat.

Key details

Location

United States · Americas

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

11 Nov 2026, 03:27 IST

Key names

Iranian, UK, Mohammad Dawood, Iraqi

Section

World

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianUS prosecutors charge Iranian operative allegedly responsible for UK air force base attack 11 Nov, 03:27

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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