Israel Confirms It Provided UK with Intelligence on Iran-Backed Plot at RAF Fairford

Israel warned Britain about a pending operation by Iran-sponsored agents at a major US airbase in the UK, the country’s President has claimed. In an interview with the BBC, Isaac Herzog stated that he agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assessment that Iran was plotting an RAF Fairford-style incident.

“We gave the Brits the intel that there was going to be an attack, an Iranian-sponsored attack, and pretty much the next day they slapped sanctions on us,” Mr Netanyahu had previously said, referencing the UK government's decision to impose sanctions on goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

On Wednesday, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham revealed that Tehran was behind last week's incident. Five men were arrested near the perimeter of the base and have since been released on bail while investigations continue.

“I confirm that I agree with PM Netanyahu on this issue,” Mr Herzog said when asked about Iranian involvement at RAF Fairford, praising the intelligence cooperation between Israel and Britain.

Despite diplomatic friction following the UK sanctions on West Bank settlers, intelligence sharing appears to continue. The Mossad foreign intelligence service, with significant human intelligence sources inside Tehran, likely provided advanced warning to MI6. Mr Herzog noted that intelligence cooperation remains excellent with high mutual respect.

US President Donald Trump remarked that the suspects had been under surveillance by British and American authorities, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that foreign actors were clearly involved.

Mr Herzog also voiced frustration regarding the diplomatic rift, criticizing the UK position on sanctions and the boycott by the Israeli embassy of the Labour Friends of Israel event.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed strong indications that Iran played a role in the weekend incident at RAF Fairford, though the exact motivations of the five arrested British men remain under investigation by counter-terrorism police.