The United States has charged three men it describes as Iran-backed operatives over an alleged campaign of terror that included a plot to attack RAF Fairford, a British airbase where US forces were stationed, and planned attacks on Jewish communities in Europe and the United States. The indictment, unsealed in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, alleges the three men acted in support of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iraqi militia Kata'ib Hezbollah.
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, a dual Iranian-Iraqi national; Mohsen Mohajeri, an Iranian national; and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, an Iraqi national, face terrorism-related offenses. Only al-Saadi is in US custody, where he has been held since his arrest in the spring. Prosecutors say he continued to coordinate with his co-defendants from jail in the days leading up to the attempted September attack on RAF Fairford.
The case centres on an incident on 27 September, when a local farmer spotted three suspicious vans near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, about 160 kilometres west of London. Five men were initially detained; a sixth was arrested days later. No explosives were found, but petrol was seized. Two British nationals, Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, and Nouman Essghir, 24, have since been charged under the National Security Act in the UK.
According to the US Department of Justice, al-Hassani allegedly directed and paid associates in Britain to conduct preparatory steps and arrange logistics for the plot. On 22 August, he paid one individual to conduct pre-operational surveillance of the base's perimeter. In September, he paid several people to help prepare, including procuring vans and barrels of fuel, researching the purchase of chemical accelerants, including large quantities of potassium chloride, and purchasing metallic objects that could be used as explosive shrapnel. The DOJ said the vans were given the appearance of being used by a fuel delivery business and a swimming pool supply business. It said al-Hassani allegedly tasked individuals on 26 September to drive three vans to the base; at least two encountered a security roadblock while en route.
The indictment accuses the trio of planning attacks in Europe under the name of a purportedly new group with the pseudonym Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, or HAYI, which claimed responsibility for 18 attacks in Europe in the spring of 2026. Seven of those took place in the UK, the DOJ said. The attacks involved “arsons, explosives, and in one instance, a near-fatal stabbing in London of two Jewish men, including a dual US-British citizen.” Two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green in April; a suspect is due to stand trial next year.
"These defendants helped orchestrate a campaign of terror on behalf of terrorist organizations affiliated with Iran that targeted Jewish communities in Europe and the United States, and the British military base, RAF Fairford, housing American service members," said US Attorney Jamie McDonald. "The threat presented by Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups to America and our allies is not hypothetical -- it is very real."
Al-Saadi pleaded not guilty in June to earlier charges of plotting at least 18 attacks in Europe in retaliation for the US and Israeli war with Iran and called himself a “prisoner of war.” His lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Iran has denied any involvement in the Fairford incident. The Iranian embassy in London said it "categorically rejects and strongly condemns" what it called "unfounded and malicious speculations" linking Iran to the incident.
Separately, the US Air Force has moved aircraft from a second British base, RAF Mildenhall, which hosts the US Air Force's KC-135 Stratotanker. Flight-tracking data showed aircraft leaving the base, and the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that the threat was related to Iran. The Pentagon did not provide immediate confirmation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was “constantly repositioning forces around the world for a variety of reasons.”
In a related development, a 41-year-old US Army member was arrested on Tuesday in England on suspicion of espionage related to Russia, British counter-terror police said. Police said the arrest was not linked to the Iran-related case.
Analysis
Why this matters
- The indictment reveals a sophisticated, Iran-linked plot targeting a NATO ally's military base and Jewish communities across the West, indicating a sustained threat from Tehran-backed networks.
- US aircraft have been evacuated from two UK bases as a precaution, which affects operational readiness and highlights the seriousness of the threat.
- The case underscores the challenge of prosecuting defendants who continue to direct operations from prison, raising questions about detention security.
Background
RAF Fairford has been used by the US Air Force for decades, including for bomber missions in the Middle East. The US withdrew all its B-1 bombers from the base in October after the September incident. The US and Israel have been in a war with Iran, which Iran has said makes any base used for aggression against its territory a legitimate target. The UK has seen a series of sabotage incidents across Europe that Western officials blame on Russia, though this case is separate.
Key perspectives
US Attorney Jamie McDonald: "These defendants helped orchestrate a campaign of terror on behalf of terrorist organizations affiliated with Iran that targeted Jewish communities in Europe and the United States, and the British military base, RAF Fairford, housing American service members."
FBI Director Kash Patel: "This eight-count indictment shows the determination of Iran to commit terrorist attacks in Europe and the US."
Iranian embassy in London: "Categorically rejects and strongly condemns" what it called "unfounded and malicious speculations" linking Iran to the incident.
US Attorney-General Todd Blanche: "Anyone who plans a terrorist plot on a military base housing American service members will be prosecuted by the United States government."
What to watch
- Whether the US military evacuates more aircraft from other UK or European bases in response to ongoing threats.
- The Old Bailey hearing on 20 November for the two British nationals charged under the National Security Act.
- Any official Iranian response to the indictment, which has not yet been issued.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 3 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedUS authorities charged three men described as Iran-backed operatives over alleged plots targeting RAF Fairford and Jewish communities in Europe and the United States.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Prosecutors in the United States have charged three men they describe as Iranian-backed operatives over their alleged role in nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks across the US and Europe, including a plot targeting the United Kingdom’s Fairford air base.”
- SupportedThe indictment alleges the three men acted in support of Iran’s IRGC and Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The Department of Justice said on Tuesday that the three men acted in support of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah.”
- SupportedJamie McDonald said the defendants helped orchestrate a campaign targeting Jewish communities and RAF Fairford.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““These defendants helped orchestrate a campaign of terror on behalf of terrorist organizations affiliated with Iran that targeted Jewish communities in Europe and the United States, and the British military base, RAF Fairford, housing American service members,” said Manhattan US Attorney Jamie McDonald.”
- SupportedMcDonald said the threat from Iran and Iran-backed groups was “not hypothetical -- it is very real.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““The threat presented by Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups to America and our allies is not hypothetical – it is very real.””
- SupportedHAYI claimed responsibility for 18 attacks in Europe in spring 2026, seven of them in the UK.BBC News: ““Of the 18 terrorist attacks in the spring of 2026 for which HAYI claimed responsibility in Europe, seven took place in the UK,” the DOJ statement said.”
- SupportedThe attacks involved arsons, explosives and, in one instance, a near-fatal stabbing of two Jewish men in London.BBC News: “It added that the attacks involved “arsons, explosives, and in one instance, a near-fatal stabbing in London of two Jewish men, including a dual US-British citizen”.”
- SupportedAl-Hassani allegedly paid someone on 22 August to conduct pre-operational surveillance of RAF Fairford’s perimeter.BBC News: “On 22 August, al-Hassani paid one individual to “perform pre-operational surveillance of RAF Fairford's perimeter”, the department said.”
- SupportedThree suspicious vans were spotted near RAF Fairford on 27 September after a farmer saw them.BBC News: “A major incident was declared on 27 September near the UK's RAF Fairford base, in the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, after three suspicious vans were seen near the airbase.”
- SupportedNo explosives were found in the vans, but petrol was seized.BBC News: “No explosive materials were found in the vans, but a quantity of petrol was seized.”
- SupportedMohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both 24, were charged under the UK National Security Act.WA Today - Latest News: “British nationals Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, and Nouman Essghir, 24, both from London, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on October 27 and were charged under the 2023 National Security Act.”
- SupportedAl-Saadi pleaded not guilty in June to earlier charges involving at least 18 attacks and called himself a “prisoner of war.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “In June, he pleaded not guilty to those charges and called himself a “prisoner of war”.”
- SupportedFlight-tracking data showed aircraft leaving RAF Mildenhall, and the Wall Street Journal reported that the threat was related to Iran.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Flight-tracking data showed on Tuesday that the US military had removed at least a dozen aircraft from a second UK airbase, RAF Mildenhall, following what the Wall Street Journal said was a threat from Iran.”