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El Salvador-backed air assault destroys Haiti gang headquarters amid search for missing troops

El Salvador's president on Tuesday said the country's military helped deliver a devastating air assault against the headquarters of...

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

El Salvador's president on Tuesday said the country's military helped deliver a devastating air assault against the headquarters of one of Haiti's most powerful criminal gangs, which has been linked to mass kidnappings, weapons trafficking and extortion.

Airstrikes targeted strongholds belonging to 400 Mawozo and the home of its leader, Lanmò San Jou, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said.

The attack took place Sunday near Port-au-Prince and was carried out by a Haitian police task force backed by Salvadoran troops, The Miami Herald reported.

BUKELE WARNS HAITIAN GANG LEADERS THAT HIS FORCES WILL 'FINISH' THEM AS HE DID IN EL SALVADOR

The operation appears to be part of an ongoing military effort in response to the disappearance of four Salvadoran members of a U.N.-backed security mission abducted in a gang ambush near Port-au-Prince Oct. 18.

"We kept our promise," Bukele said in a post on X.

Videos showed several helicopters launching airstrikes against multiple compounds inside sprawling complexes. Dozens of people were also seen fleeing the properties on foot and motorbikes after the strikes.

"Most of them ran away without even trying to fight. What cowards!" Bukele said.

As many as 20 people are believed to have been killed in the operation, according to The Miami Herald, citing anonymous sources.

SUSPECTS IN HAITIAN PRESIDENT'S ASSASSINATION TRANSFERRED TO MIAMI, ACCUSED OF FUNDING PLOT WITH COVID FRAUD

Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé on Tuesday thanked Bukele for his commitment to tackling the country's long-running gang crisis and restoring state control, while praising the efforts of the U.N.-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), the Haitian National Police, the Haitian Armed Forces and their international partners.

"I salute the commitment of the Salvadoran forces in the fight against gangs," he said.

"Hats off to President Nayib Bukele @nayibbukele for your support and commitment to the national fight against gangs. Haiti, El Salvador, GSF: same fight, same determination! The collaboration will continue. THE GANGS WILL GET NO SLEEP!"

After an Oct. 18 ambush, authorities recovered a burned armored vehicle with no trace of the four missing Salvadoran personnel, prompting El Salvador to deploy thousands of additional troops to assist in the search.

While Salvadoran officials believe the men were abducted and survived, one gang leader claimed they were dead.

The disappearance has become a national priority for Bukele, who has warned Haitian gang leaders that El Salvador is prepared to use overwhelming force if the men are not returned alive.



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Iran claims it struck a small Omani island in the Strait of Hormuz, targeting oil tanker navigation infrastructure as CENTCOM maintains its blockade of Iranian ports and protects commercial shipping from Iranian attacks along the southern route.

Three sources also confirmed to Reuters on Wednesday that navigation systems and communications equipment on Didamar Island, also known as Little Quoin Island, had been attacked, raising concerns about the vulnerability of maritime infrastructure used to maintain oil shipments through the Gulf.

Iran's semiofficial Fars News Agency reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy targeted the island, alleging the systems were being used to help vessels transit the strait without Tehran's authorization.

WHITE HOUSE SILENT ON IRAN-OMAN HORMUZ PLAN TEHRAN SAYS WOULD BAN US WARSHIPS

Iranian state television also claimed that personnel and equipment on the island "were helping the flow of oil smuggling by the enemy," with the IRGC maintaining it had carried out the strikes, Reuters reported.

Video published by Reuters showed smoke rising near the rocky outcrop.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) meanwhile, said it identified the attack as occurring Nov. 8, before Iranian state media claimed responsibility on Nov. 10.

ISW also questioned the extent of the reported damage, noting that commercial vessels continued using the southern route following the attack.

"The extent of the damage to these systems and the systems struck remains unclear at the time of this writing," ISW said in its assessment.

Satellite imagery from the European Union's Copernicus Sentinel-2 program, cited by Reuters and dated Nov. 8, also showed apparent scorch marks near radar and radio equipment on the island.

TRADE VESSEL STRUCK BY PROJECTILE IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ AMID US-IRAN TALKS

The strike comes as U.S forces carry out missions to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

The U.S. Navy imposed its blockade of Iranian ports in April after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in February amid escalating tensions. The U.S. lifted the blockade in June following a temporary ceasefire agreement, but then reinstated it in July.

Commercial and allied shipping through the waterway is advised to use a southern route through Omani territorial waters, located outside of Tehran’s direct military control and overseen by CENTCOM.

The latest incident on Didamar Island comes as Gulf oil exporters work to restore shipments disrupted by the conflict.

TRUMP MEETS KEY IRAN WAR MEDIATOR AS UAE REVEALS MAJOR OIL EXPORT SURGE DESPITE CONFLICT

According to Reuters, regional oil exports recovered to more than 80% of prewar levels in September and October, aided by CENTCOM and increased Saudi exports through the Red Sea.

Shipping companies have also relied on offshore tanker-to-tanker transfers near Oman and the United Arab Emirates to maintain flows.

Didamar, meanwhile, belongs to Oman, making the reported attack particularly sensitive as Tehran seeks to disrupt maritime operations in the region. It is a small, uninhabited rocky island roughly 10 nautical miles north of the tip of Oman's Musandam Peninsula, near one of the principal commercial shipping routes through the strait.

The island has long served as a navigational landmark for vessels traveling along the waterway, including through a lighthouse established in 1914.

Its maritime infrastructure reportedly includes a radar system mounted on a roughly 25-meter tower and radio communications equipment used to assist vessels navigating the narrow passage.

The island has also been associated with the Hormuz Control Centre, which coordinates maritime traffic in the area.

OIL SQUEEZE TIGHTENS AS IRAN-BACKED ATTACKS CRIPPLE HORMUZ ESCAPE ROUTES

Arabian Maritime and Navigation Aids Services (AMMAS) has been identified as a provider of navigational support infrastructure in the region, including maritime lights, buoys and other equipment.

The reported Didamar attack also follows U.S. military operations against Iranian targets elsewhere in the waterway.

U.S. forces struck targets on Iran's Qeshm Island on Nov. 2, with officials describing the strikes as "defensive" actions targeting Iranian surface-to-air missile threats.

Qeshm Island, located near the Strait of Hormuz, is home to Iranian naval facilities and military infrastructure associated with the Revolutionary Guard.

President Donald Trump has also acknowledged Nov. 6. that American forces continue to conduct limited strikes against Iranian targets.

Asked by a reporter about the strikes near Qeshm Island, he said: "I don't want to talk about it. We do minor strikes. They built a little bit of an anti-aircraft device, and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five."



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Russia's Ambassador to the United States Alexander Darchiev, 66, died suddenly Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced.

"The leadership and staff of the Russian Foreign Ministry report with deep sorrow that on Nov. 11, at the age of 66, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the United States of America, Alexander Nikitich Darchiev, passed away suddenly," Russia's statement, as translated to English, said. "A distinguished diplomat, experienced leader, kind colleague, and mentor has departed this life. A consummate professional and brilliant Americanist, A.N. Darchiev served on one of the most critical and demanding fronts of Russian foreign policy."

"We express our deepest and most sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Alexander Nikitich Darchiev," the statement added. "The cherished memory of our untimely departed colleague will forever remain in our hearts."

Fox News confirmed the death came in Russia and not the U.S.

MELANIA TRUMP HAILS OLESHKY CEASEFIRE AS POTENTIAL ‘SPARK’ FOR PROGRESS AMID UKRAINE-RUSSIA WAR

Russia's Vladimir Putin appointed Darchiev, a veteran diplomat known in the past for his public denunciations of the West, as ambassador to Washington in March 2025 to lead a rapprochement with the Trump administration that has rattled Ukraine, the European Union and NATO.

His death comes less than a week after a White House news conference hailing a temporary ceasefire in Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia.

First lady Melania Trump and envoys from both Russia and Ukraine hailed the ceasefire in the Oleshky region.

"We have chosen humanity over war," the first lady said. "Undeniably, the lives of innocent people must transcend the division of war. I hope Oleshky inspires greater peace. Every significant transformation begins with a small spark."

KUSHNER ENTERS UKRAINE PEACE TALKS AS TRUMP EYES SECURING SAFEGUARDS AGAINST ANOTHER RUSSIAN INVASION

Shortly after being tapped as ambassador, Darchiev met with Trump administration officials and delivered a message of hope for peace.

"Russia and the United States are destined, as great powers, to have non-confrontational peaceful existence," Darchiev said during a June 10, 2025, Russia Day reception at the Russian Embassy in Washington after delivering his credentials to the White House, adding, "our discussion was very constructive."

Before taking the helm of the Russian Embassy in Washington, Darchiev played a role as the Kremlin’s point man for high-stakes bilateral negotiations, most notably during the delicate discussions that led to prisoner swaps involving imprisoned arms dealer Viktor Bout and detained Americans Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan.

EVAN GERSHKOVICH DETAILS RUSSIAN ARREST, REVEALS MOMENT THAT NEARLY BROKE HIM DURING WRONGFUL DETENTION

In August 2022, while serving as the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s North American Department, Darchiev provided the first on-the-record Russian confirmation that Moscow and Washington were actively discussing those situations.

"This quite sensitive issue of the swap of convicted Russian and U.S. citizens is being pursued along the channels designated by our presidents," Darchiev told the Russian state news agency TASS. "The individuals are, indeed, being discussed. The Russian side has long been seeking the release of Viktor Bout. The negotiations are bearing fruit."

His comments marked a breakthrough moment in months of backchannel diplomacy, which ultimately culminated in December 2022 when the U.S. and Russia completed a one-for-one swap of Griner for Bout at an airport in Abu Dhabi.

Fox News' Gillian Turner, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.



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Israel's newly elected parliament was sworn in Tuesday, marking the beginning of a political transition that could end Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's long tenure in power. Despite the opposition's parliamentary gains, the country remains without a new government, and negotiations to form one face significant obstacles.

At the center of those negotiations is former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who was tasked by President Isaac Herzog on Sunday with assembling Israel's next governing coalition after 67 lawmakers recommended him for the position, compared with 46 who supported Netanyahu.

Although Eisenkot's Yashar party won 21 seats in the Oct. 27 election, he is working closely with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, whose B'Yachad party, formed with former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, secured another 12 seats.

NETANYAHU FACES COALITION SHOWDOWN AS RIVALS MANEUVER TO FORM ISRAEL'S NEXT GOVERNMENT

The two parties have not merged, but their cooperation effectively gives Eisenkot the negotiating backing of 33 lawmakers — more than Netanyahu's Likud, which remains the largest individual party in the Knesset with 27 seats.

A source with knowledge of discussions within the bloc seeking to replace Netanyahu told Fox News Digital that Bennett has decided to act as a political kingmaker, supporting Eisenkot's leadership bid rather than seeking the premiership himself.

Bennett intends to coordinate closely with Eisenkot throughout the negotiations while preserving his party's independent leadership and parliamentary identity, according to the source.

The arrangement does not create a new 33-seat party or guarantee that the two leaders will agree on every coalition arrangement. But it places Eisenkot in a stronger negotiating position than his party's 21 seats alone would suggest.

During Tuesday's swearing-in of the new Knesset, Netanyahu called for a national unity government, citing Israel's security challenges, but also sharply attacked the Arab parties, accusing them of supporting terrorism and warning against forming a government dependent on their votes.

Bennett, normally an outspoken political figure who has largely avoided the spotlight during the coalition negotiations, broke his relative silence to repeatedly confront Netanyahu during the speech.

FORMER ISRAELI PM EMERGES AS WILD CARD IN HIGH-STAKES ELECTION WITH MIDDLE EAST'S FUTURE AT STAKE

"What about your Qatari advisors?" Bennett shouted, referring to the investigation into allegations that members of Netanyahu's inner circle had financial ties to Qatar while working for the prime minister. Bennett also demanded to know why Netanyahu had not established a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and challenged him to declare Qatar an enemy state.

The confrontation disrupted Netanyahu's address, with other lawmakers joining the shouting as the prime minister continued warning against a government supported by Arab parties.

Eisenkot responded with an unusually forceful condemnation. "I sat and listened to the outgoing prime minister’s delusional, divisive, hate-filled and shameful speech," Eisenkot said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital on Nov. 10. "I am now even more convinced that he is unfit to remain in office for even one more minute."

Eisenkot subsequently instructed his negotiating team to cancel a meeting scheduled with Likud representatives for Wednesday.

In a separate statement, Yashar said the canceled meeting had been intended to explore coalition possibilities based on Eisenkot's four governing principles, but Netanyahu's speech made the planned discussions untenable.

FORMER ISRAELI ARMY CHIEF GADI EISENKOT EMERGES AS NETANYAHU’S LEADING ELECTION CHALLENGER

Netanyahu, however, continued advocating for a unity government on Wednesday, arguing that Israel's security challenges demanded cooperation across political divisions, according to The Times of Israel.

Despite the public confrontation, a national unity government remains one of the most tangible scenarios under consideration, according to a source with knowledge of negotiations within the bloc seeking to replace Netanyahu.

The source told Fox News Digital that such an arrangement would depend on Netanyahu agreeing not to serve as prime minister first, potentially allowing Eisenkot to lead the government under a rotation agreement while Netanyahu assumes the position of alternate prime minister.

Eisenkot's allies are keeping several options open, according to the source, including agreements with ultra-Orthodox or Arab parties, partly to strengthen their negotiating position and increase pressure on Netanyahu to accept a power-sharing arrangement.

But whether Netanyahu would agree to relinquish the premiership, even temporarily, remains unclear. The source emphasized that negotiations are fluid and that no agreement has been reached.

NETANYAHU GAINS OVERNIGHT AS ISRAEL ELECTION HEADS TOWARD POLITICAL DEADLOCK

The official election results left Netanyahu's bloc with 53 seats, while the four parties seeking to replace him secured 48. The remaining 19 seats went to two Arab-led parties: the Joint List, with 11, and Ra'am, led by Mansour Abbas, with eight.

While 67 lawmakers supported Eisenkot receiving the mandate to form a government, that support does not automatically translate into a workable governing coalition.

Herzog acknowledged the challenge during consultations with parliamentary leaders, citing disagreements and mutual political vetoes that could prevent either side from forming a stable government.

Eisenkot's principal partners are Bennett, Lapid, Yair Golan of the Democrats and Avigdor Liberman of Yisrael Beytenu. Together, their parties hold 48 seats, 13 short of the 61 generally needed for a parliamentary majority.

Eisenkot has outlined four principles for potential coalition partners: recognizing Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, accepting the values of the Declaration of Independence, supporting military or civilian national service for all, and recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization whose military and governing capabilities must be dismantled.

But those conditions have created a difficult political equation.

The ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, collectively hold 13 seats — precisely the number Eisenkot's existing four-party bloc would need to reach 61.

However, both parties have historically opposed broadening military conscription to include ultra-Orthodox religious students, directly conflicting with Eisenkot's demand for national service.

At a Nov. 10 faction meeting, Eisenkot reiterated that he would not abandon the principle of universal military, national or civilian service, according to The Times of Israel.

The disagreement became even more visible Wednesday, when Bennett's party submitted legislation proposing expanded benefits for soldiers and reservists, while United Torah Judaism introduced bills seeking to preserve military draft exemptions for religious students, The Times of Israel reported Tuesday.

The Arab parties present a different challenge.

While Ra'am's eight lawmakers could help Eisenkot establish a government, Liberman has rejected relying on Arab parties, and the political acceptability of such an arrangement remains disputed within the bloc.

A source within Eisenkot's party told Fox News Digital that the party has not categorically ruled out cooperation with Ra'am, provided its leadership accepts the four governing principles.

The source acknowledged that negotiations remain difficult and that multiple coalition arrangements are still under consideration.

One option involves securing the support of ultra-Orthodox parties. Another would require cooperation with Arab lawmakers, potentially including support from outside the government. A broader national unity arrangement involving Likud has also been discussed.

Each scenario presents political obstacles, leaving Eisenkot facing the difficult task of assembling a coalition among parties with sharply different views on religion, national identity and security policy.

NETANYAHU DEFIES EXIT POLLS AS VOTE SHIFTS IN HIS FAVOR, BUT MAJORITY REMAINS ELUSIVE

Even without a new government, Eisenkot and his allies have begun exercising their influence in the newly sworn-in parliament.

In a Monday statement provided to Fox News Digital, Yashar announced that it had submitted legislation to establish a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and introduce term limits for the prime minister.

The party also submitted proposals to repeal legislation associated with Netanyahu's judicial overhaul, including changes to the judiciary, the attorney general's authority, the police and the circumstances under which a prime minister can be declared unable to serve.

A vote to replace current Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, a Netanyahu ally, is scheduled for Nov. 17.

The appointments could give Eisenkot's allies considerable influence over Israel's legislative agenda before they secure control of the government.

Beyond the domestic political negotiations, Eisenkot has also sought to reassure American leaders about the future of U.S.-Israel relations.

In a Nov. 4 public statement addressed to Americans and the international community, Eisenkot pledged to restore bipartisan cooperation with Washington and deepen Israel's relationship with the United States.

"The bond between Israel and the United States is more than an alliance between governments," Eisenkot wrote. "It is a partnership between peoples, built over generations, sustained by shared democratic values, and strengthened by the conviction that our nations are more secure and more prosperous when we stand together."

He also directly addressed his willingness to work with President Donald Trump.

"I look forward to working closely and constructively with President Trump and his administration, whose friendship and commitment to Israel we deeply value," Eisenkot said.

The message comes amid heightened debate in Washington over the future of U.S. support for Israel, following the American midterm elections and disagreements over the country's regional policies.

A source within Eisenkot's party told Fox News Digital that rebuilding relations with the United States, including with both major American political parties, would be among the priorities of a new government.

Eisenkot has also emphasized his intention to pursue regional cooperation and diplomatic opportunities while maintaining Israel's security commitments.

ISRAEL HEADS INTO DEEPLY DIVIDED ELECTION AS OCT. 7 RECKONING LOOMS: WHAT TO KNOW

Under Israeli law, Eisenkot has 28 days from Nov. 8 to form a government, giving him until Dec. 6 to reach an agreement. Herzog can grant an extension of up to 14 additional days, potentially pushing the deadline to Dec. 20.

If Eisenkot fails, the president may give another lawmaker the opportunity to form a government. Additional parliamentary procedures would follow if a second attempt also fails, potentially culminating in another national election.

The outcome could determine not only who becomes Israel's next prime minister, but also the country's direction on military conscription, judicial reform, accountability for October 7 and its relations with Washington.

For now, Israel is experiencing an unusual political transition: a newly elected parliament is beginning to challenge the outgoing government's agenda, while the leader tasked with forming its replacement is still negotiating over who will join him.

Eisenkot has the presidential mandate, Bennett's backing and the support of a parliamentary majority willing to recommend him. What he does not yet have is an agreement among those parties on how to govern together.



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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — In a historic house near Dubai Creek, a small gallery commemorating the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust stands alongside collections exploring Islamic civilization, Emirati heritage and the history of Palestine and the Holy Land.

The Holocaust exhibition at the privately owned Crossroads of Civilizations Museum is among the first permanent displays of its kind in the Arab world. Opened in May 2021, less than a year after the UAE normalized relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords, it has become a symbol of the Emirates' approach to religious coexistence.

During a recent visit to the museum, Fox News Digital saw displays documenting Nazi persecution, including a life-size image of the boy from the famous Warsaw Ghetto photograph, his hands raised in surrender.

The gallery also tells the stories of Muslims who rescued Jews during the Holocaust, including Egyptian physician Mohammed Helmy, who sheltered Jews from Nazi persecution in Berlin.

US-BACKED ISRAEL-MOROCCO DEAL DEEPENS ABRAHAM ACCORDS AMID GROWING REGIONAL THREATS

But the story behind the exhibition is as personal as the objects it preserves.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, museum founder Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori, a former member of the UAE's Federal National Council, explained that his passion for collecting historical artifacts began in childhood, when he inherited family manuscripts and objects from his grandparents.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC JOINS GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST ANTISEMITISM WITH LANDMARK MOVE

He began collecting systematically in 1989, eventually establishing a private museum in his home in 2006. Dubai authorities later provided a historic building to accommodate his growing collection, which opened to the public in 2014.

The Holocaust gallery came much later.

9/11 MUSEUM UNVEILS EXHIBITION FOR GENERATION TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER THE ATTACKS: 'CALLED EVERYBODY TO LEAD'

Al Mansoori said two experiences inspired him. The first was a visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington during the 1990s, where he was deeply moved by the message that the Holocaust was a tragedy with lessons for all humanity.

The second was a conversation with an American Jewish acquaintance who expressed fear about rising antisemitism in the United States. Initially, he dismissed her concerns. But after encountering antisemitic imagery circulating during a period of unrest in the U.S., he reconsidered. "I realized I was wrong," he said.

He turned to Jewish friends and colleagues to organize a Holocaust remembrance event in Dubai in 2021.

CHRISTIAN LEADERS HOLD EMERGENCY SUMMIT IN JERUSALEM TO CONFRONT GLOBAL RISE IN ANTISEMITISM

"The beauty about this Holocaust gallery was built by Arabs, by Jews, and by Christians," he told Fox News Digital, describing the international team that helped create the exhibition.

What began as a commemorative initiative became something much larger.

At the opening, Al Mansoori said, he was struck by the positive response from visitors, including residents of the UAE and people from elsewhere in the region. He also encountered criticism, but concluded that the gallery should become a permanent part of the museum.

"I thought it was very beautiful, very important. And it must stay," he recalled.

The exhibition formally opened on May 26, 2021, attended by the Israeli and German ambassadors to the UAE, according to The National's coverage at the time.

TRUMP CALLS ON ARAB NATIONS TO SIGN ABRAHAM ACCORDS

Yet Al Mansoori's vision extends beyond Holocaust remembrance.

In another section of the museum, historical maps of Palestine appear alongside Jewish manuscripts, photographs and documents illustrating the region's overlapping histories.

"You have the maps from the Israeli perspective. You have the map from the Palestinian perspective," he said, explaining why he deliberately brings different historical narratives into the same space.

He recalled a visit by rabbis in August 2020, when Muslim, Jewish and Christian guests prayed alongside one another at the museum, each according to their own traditions.

For Al Mansoori, the purpose is not to erase religious or political differences, but to make it possible for people to respect one another despite them.

"It's how to learn to be comfortable being yourself next to others. And others must be also comfortable to be next to you," he said.

As war and political tensions continue to divide the Middle East, Al Mansoori believes the museum offers a different way to confront the region's painful history: not by avoiding it, but by allowing visitors to encounter histories and experiences beyond their own.



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Tuesday, November 10, 2026

The U.S. Air Force abruptly relocated more than a dozen aircraft from RAF Mildenhall in eastern England amid an emerging security threat, U.S. officials confirmed Tuesday.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the move, citing sources who said the threat originated in Iran.

As U.S. officials assessed the threat's nature and urgency, commanders raised the base's security level to Force Protection Condition Charlie, the military's second-highest alert level, indicating a likely terrorist threat against personnel or facilities.

IRAN HAS 'SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED' EFFORTS TO TARGET AMERICANS ABROAD, US INTELLIGENCE MEMO WARNS

Flight-tracking data and open-source analysts with the Military Air Tracking Alliance identified 13 U.S. aircraft leaving the base late Monday, the Associated Press said.

Nine Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers were moved to airfields in Scotland, Germany and Spain.

Three CV-22B Ospreys were relocated to nearby RAF Lakenheath, which has hardened aircraft shelters.

A U.S. official told The Associated Press the moves were precautionary, noting that some aircraft were on rotational deployments while others were permanently stationed in the United Kingdom.

IRAN UNDER SCRUTINY AFTER PLOT FOILED NEAR UK BASE USED BY US MILITARY

The move marks the second major relocation of U.S. military aircraft from Britain in less than two months.

In early October, the Air Force pulled heavy bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire after British counterterrorism police stopped three suspicious vans headed toward the base Sept. 27.

Two men have since been charged under the United Kingdom's National Security Act.

Separately, the Justice Department unsealed indictments against three Iranian-backed operatives on Tuesday accused of involvement in coordinated terrorist plots across Europe, including RAF Fairford.

UK POLICE ARREST 'EXPLOSIVE' SUSPECTS NEAR US AIRBASE, KEY TO IRAN WAR

RAF Mildenhall is home to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, the only permanently based U.S. tanker wing in Europe.

Its KC-135 Stratotankers support allied aerial refueling and long-range strike missions across the region.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Washington routinely repositions military forces.

"We are constantly repositioning forces around the world for a variety of reasons," Rubio told reporters when asked about the evacuation.

A 10 Downing Street spokesperson said British air bases remain secure and that London and Washington continuously share intelligence on potential threats.



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A senior U.S. Army soldier was arrested in England Tuesday on suspicion of espionage offenses related to Russia, according to U.K. police.

The 41-year-old man, whose identity was not released, was detained as part of an investigation into suspected national security threats led by Counter Terrorism Policing, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Officials said the arrest was carried out in coordination with the U.S. military and the FBI.

"This important arrest involves allegations of espionage, which is of the utmost concern to the United States and our allies," FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement.

FBI OFFERS $200K REWARD FOR FORMER AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE AGENT ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR IRAN

The soldier was arrested near Gloucester, and police are currently searching two locations in the wider Gloucestershire area as part of the ongoing joint U.K.-U.S. investigation.

Police said the man was detained under the National Security Act 2023 and remains in custody at a London police station.

The investigation is ongoing and is being led by officers from the Counter Terrorism Policing team in London.

RUSSIAN SPIES ORCHESTRATED $40K MURDER PLOT IN NATION’S CAPITAL, US ALLEGES

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, described the allegations as "serious."

"We will work together to take robust action against those we suspect of any criminal activity that could undermine our national security," Evans said in a statement.

"The alleged conduct of a senior soldier, entrusted with sensitive information, is a sobering reminder that insider threats are real and persistent," Brig. Gen. Sean Stinchon, the commanding general of the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, added in a statement.

Patel said the arrest serves as a reminder that the FBI will not tolerate service members who break their oath to the United States or its partners.

CALIFORNIA WOMAN ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR CHINA FIGHTS DETENTION WITH $820K IN PROPOSED SECURITY

"While this investigation is continuing, I want to send a clear message – this FBI has no tolerance for anyone who breaks their oath to the United States and whose actions endanger our national security and that of our partners," Patel said in a statement.

He added that officials have made at least 167 counterintelligence and espionage arrests under the current FBI leadership over the past 21 months, marking a 53% increase.

"This matter shows that partnerships are essential to protect our countries and I want to express my thanks to UK Counter Terrorism Policing, MI5, UK Defence Counter Intelligence, and the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command for their outstanding work," Patel said.



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