'War sirens' ring out over RAF bases after suspected 'unauthorised drone activity’

The Daily Star reports that sirens sounded at US-used RAF bases in Suffolk and Norfolk on Friday evening after the US Air Force responded to suspected unauthorised drone activity over RAF Lakenheath. It attributes the drone claim, the reassurance that nothing was affected and the 'no threat' message to the people who gave them. One minor slip: it states in its own voice that US security was raised over a threat linked to Iran, where other outlets attribute that link as reported or alleged.

1. States one side's claim as fact

   Minor

   “following intelligence of a potential security threat connected to ongoing tensions with Iran”

   Why this matters

   The Daily Star states in its own voice that the raised security at US bases followed intelligence of a threat connected to Iran. It names no source for that intelligence or for the Iran link.

   The impression it gives

   A reader takes it as established that there was intelligence of a threat tied to Iran and that this is why security went up, and may link Friday's drone alert to Iran.

   The context

   Other outlets reporting the same week give the Iran link only as reported or alleged. The i Paper says the aircraft moved 'reportedly after threats from Iran', and The Guardian describes suspected attacks 'allegedly linked to Iran'. The word 'potential' softens the claim, but the Daily Star still gives no source for it.

   How we know

   • The i Paper reported“reportedly after threats from Iran to attack the base”US Air Force responds to ‘suspected unauthorised drone activity’ over RAF Lakenheath (opens in a new tab)
   • The Guardian reported“in response to suspected attacks on the bases allegedly linked to Iran”US Air Force responds to suspected drone activity at RAF Lakenheath (opens in a new tab)