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Vol. 3 · No. 317 Every side. Side by side. Friday, November 13, 2026
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U.S. charges three men over alleged Iran-linked RAF Fairford plot

U.S. prosecutors unsealed charges against three men they describe as Iran-backed operatives over an alleged September plot at RAF Fairford, BBC and RTE News reported; Iran has denied involvement.

By AI reporterPRESSElena Dateline · WhatsNewPaper Desk · Written from 3 sources
What's new
  1. New headline Was: “MP says threat was to RAF Mildenhall base, not the town”
  2. Our desk updated its story
  3. ITV News is now reporting this
  4. U.S. Department of Justice is now reporting this
  5. RTE News, Al-Monitor and 6 more are now reporting this
10 earlier updates
  1. New headline Was: “US aircraft leave RAF Mildenhall after reported Iran threat”
  2. Our desk updated its story
  3. CBS News is now reporting this
  4. Sky News UK is now reporting this
  5. New headline Was: “US military aircraft leave second UK base, report says”
  6. Our desk filed its story
  7. New headline Was: “U.S. aircraft moved from RAF Mildenhall after reported Iran threat”
  8. Al Jazeera is now reporting this
  9. BBC is now reporting this
  10. The Guardian is now reporting this

The U.S. Justice Department unsealed charges this week against three men it described as Iran-backed operatives over alleged plots in Europe and an incident in September near RAF Fairford, a Royal Air Force station in Gloucestershire used by U.S. forces1,2,3.

The defendants named in the indictment are Iranian national Mohsen Mohajeri, Iraqi national Mohammad Ali al-Hassani and dual Iranian-Iraqi national Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, who is already in jail in New York on earlier terrorism charges1,2.

Prosecutors said Iranian agents orchestrated a plot at the U.K. air base and that al-Saadi communicated from detention while the other two allegedly did so from Iran1,2.

According to the department, the men planned attacks under the name Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, or HAYI, and claimed 18 attacks in Europe in spring 2026, seven of them in the United Kingdom, including arsons, explosives and a stabbing of two Jewish men in London in April1,2,3.

U.S. charging papers say al-Hassani paid associates in August and September to watch Fairford's perimeter, obtain vans and fuel, research chemical accelerants and buy metal that could be used as shrapnel, then disguise the vans as delivery vehicles1,2.

On Sept. 26, the papers allege, three vans, some carrying barrels of fuel, were driven toward the base; at least two met a security roadblock1. BBC reported that a farmer spotted the vans in the early hours of Sept. 27 and called police, that no explosives were found and that petrol was seized1.

Iran's embassy in London said it rejected what it called unfounded speculation linking Iran to the incident1. U.S. bombers were later withdrawn from Fairford, which has been used for flights related to operations involving Iran1,2.

Attorney General Todd Blanche said anyone who plans a terrorist plot on a military base housing American service members would be prosecuted2. FBI Director Kash Patel said the indictment showed Iran's determination to commit attacks in Europe and the United States1.

U.K. police last month charged two British men with national security offenses related to Fairford1,2. Prosecutors have not said where al-Hassani and Mohajeri are2. The charges have not been proven in court.

Sources

  1. BBCThree Iran-backed suspects plotted attacks including RAF Fairford incident, US says
  2. RTE NewsUS charges three 'Iranian operatives' in UK airbase plot
  3. DWUS charges 3 alleged Iranian operatives over plots targeting Jewish communities and a UK airbase

Read the original at BBC ↗

How it’s being reported

3 sources

First reported by DWDW

Where they agree

  • The United States charged three men over alleged Iran-linked plots that include RAF Fairford.
  • Al-Saadi is already in U.S. custody; the others were not described as in U.S. custody.
  • The Fairford episode involved vans near the base in late September.

Where they differ

Iran's role in the Fairford incident

Side by side

Each outlet's article broken down by our newsroom, in our own words. To read what they wrote, use the button under each one.

BBC

Three Iran-backed suspects plotted attacks including RAF Fairford incident, US says

The Fairford van incident, coded messages from a New York jail, and Iran's denial.

BBC reports a U.S. indictment accusing three men of Iran-backed plots in Europe and a September incident near RAF Fairford. BBC News

The Fairford van incident, coded messages from a New York jail, and Iran's denial.

What it reports

  • The Justice Department charged Mohsen Mohajeri, Mohammad Ali al-Hassani and Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi.
  • Prosecutors say one defendant messaged from a New York jail and the others from Iran.
  • They allege the men used the name HAYI and claimed 18 attacks in Europe in spring 2026, seven in the U.K.
  • U.S. accounts say vans with fuel barrels were driven toward Fairford on Sept. 26 after surveillance and purchases of fuel and metal.
  • Iran's embassy in London rejected links to the incident; the U.S. later withdrew bombers from the base.
Read the original at BBC Read the full article at BBC
RTE NewsRTE News

US charges three 'Iranian operatives' in UK airbase plot

Individual roles, U.K. charges against two British men, and a reported aircraft move from RAF Mildenhall.

RTE reports ages, charge counts and Attorney General Todd Blanche's statement on plots at a base used in U.S. operations against Iran.

Leaves out The farmer's 27 September discovery described by BBC.

Individual roles, U.K. charges against two British men, and a reported aircraft move from RAF Mildenhall.

What it reports

  • Al-Saadi, 32, is already jailed in New York; al-Hassani is 35 and Iraqi; Mohajeri is 48 and Iranian.
  • The eight-count indictment includes conspiracy to support Kataeb Hezbollah and the IRGC.
  • Blanche said anyone planning a plot on a base housing American service members would be prosecuted.
  • U.K. police last month charged two British men over the Fairford incident.
  • Prosecutors did not disclose the whereabouts of al-Hassani and Mohajeri.

Leaves out The farmer's 27 September discovery described by BBC.

Read the original at RTE News Read the full article at RTE News
DWDW

US charges 3 alleged Iranian operatives over plots targeting Jewish communities and a UK airbase

Jewish community targets alongside the U.K. airbase.

DW reports U.S. claims of nearly 20 alleged attacks on Jewish communities and the Fairford airbase.

Leaves out Operational detail on vans and fuel.

Jewish community targets alongside the U.K. airbase.

What it reports

  • U.S. authorities charged three men on Tuesday over an alleged campaign that included Jewish communities in Europe and the United States and RAF Fairford.

Leaves out Operational detail on vans and fuel.

Read the original at DW Read the full article at DW