The Aporia · U.S. charges three ‘Iranian operatives’ over U.K. airbase plot

The U.S. Justice Department announced charges on November 10, 2026, against three individuals described as "Iranian operatives" for their alleged involvement in a terrorist plot at RAF Fairford airbase in southwest England. The accused are Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, with Al-Saadi already incarcerated in New York on previous terrorism charges. They face an eight-count indictment including conspiracy to provide material support to terrorist groups and attempted acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries. The plot involved planning suspicious activities at the base using white vans and barrels of fuel, some allegedly intended for use as improvised explosive devices.

Written by AI on 2026-11-11, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

On November 10, 2026, U.S. authorities charged Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani with terrorism-related offenses for plotting nearly 20 attacks targeting Jewish communities in Europe and the United States, as well as an attack on RAF Fairford, a British Royal Air Force base housing U.S. military aircraft and personnel. The charges were laid out in an eight-count superseding indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court by U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. Al-Saadi, who is already in U.S. custody after being arrested earlier this year, allegedly continued to coordinate with his co-defendants days before the planned September attack on RAF Fairford.

The suspects are accused of ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Kata'ib Hizballah. According to prosecutors, Al-Hassani directed associates in the UK to conduct surveillance of RAF Fairford in August, paying one individual to record video footage of the base’s perimeter. The group also obtained three vans and barrels of fuel, researched chemical accelerants, and purchased metal objects that could be used as explosive shrapnel.

Additionally, Al-Saadi, while detained in New York on previous criminal charges, attempted to pass coded messages to his co-defendants through calls with family members from jail. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham previously stated that the plot against RAF Fairford was likely coordinated by Iran.

Written for “US Charges Terror Plotting Men” on 2026-11-11, grounded in this article and the 12 other(s) covering the same event.

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The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday (November 10, 2026) announced charges against three men it described as "Iranian operatives," including one already in jail, over their role in an alleged terrorist plot at Britain's RAF Fairford airbase. asserted

it → announce → airbase

Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani allegedly helped plan and direct the September incident at the base, which has been used by the U.S. military in its operations against Iran. uncertain

which → help → Iran

Police were called to the Fairford site in southwest England after a local farmer reported seeing a group of men with several white vans engaged in "suspicious" activity. asserted

group → call → activity

A U.S. charging document states that Al-Hassani, a 35-year-old Iraqi national, directed unnamed individuals to drive to the base in the vans, some of which contained barrels of fuel. asserted

some → state → fuel

It claims that he earlier paid the group to buy metallic objects that could be used as shrapnel, and to disguise the vehicles as being engaged in fuel delivery services. uncertain

that → claim → services

Al-Saadi, 32, a dual Iranian-Iraqi national already jailed in New York on terrorism charges, allegedly passed coded messages to Al-Hassani and Mohajeri, 48, an Iranian national, to coordinate ahead of the plot. uncertain

Saadi → jail → plot

Days after the incident, the United States withdrew all its B-1 bombers from the base. asserted

States → withdraw → base

"Anyone who plans a terrorist plot on a military base housing American servicemembers will be prosecuted by the United States government," Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement on Tuesday (November 10, 2026). asserted

Blanche → plan → Tuesday

The trio were charged in an eight-count indictment that alleges their involvement in several other plots in support of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and pro-Iranian group Kataeb Hezbollah. asserted

that → charge → Corps

Terrorist attacks U.S. authorities first detailed charges in May against Al-Saadi, accusing him of directing and urging others to attack U.S. and Israeli interests, and to kill Americans and Jews, in retaliation for the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. uncertain

authorities → detail → Iran

He and associates were said to have planned, coordinated and claimed responsibility for at least 18 terrorist attacks in Europe, and two in Canada. asserted

He → say → Canada

Examples included the non-fatal stabbing of two Jewish men in London in April, as well as several arson attacks on synagogues, Israeli businesses and Jewish schools in Amsterdam, Munich and elsewhere. Al-Saadi has been in U.S. custody since May. The latest indictment adds his apparent role in the RAF Fairford incident, as well as the alleged involvement of Al-Hassani and Mohajeri. uncertain

indictment → include → Hassani

Prosecutors did not disclose their whereabouts. asserted

Prosecutors → disclose → whereabouts

The three men are charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorist groups Kataeb Hezbollah and the IRGC, conspiring and providing material support for acts of terrorism, and conspiring to bomb a place of public use. asserted

men → charge → use

Al-Saadi is additionally charged with attempted acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, and attempted destruction of property by means of fire or explosive. asserted

Saadi → charge → fire

U.K. police last month charged two British men with national security offences related to the RAF Fairford incident. asserted

police → charge → incident

One was charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service, believed to be in Iran, and another with entering a prohibited place for a purpose "prejudicial" to the U.K. Flight-tracking data showed on Tuesday (November 10, 2026) that the U.S. military had removed at least a dozen aircraft from a second British airbase, RAF Mildenhall, following what the Wall Street Journal said was a threat from Iran. asserted

Journal → charge → Iran

U.S. charges three ‘Iranian operatives’ over U.K. airbase plot

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