US confirms drone sightings at air base in Germany, says 'no impacts to base residents, assets'

US on Friday confirmed drones were spotted flying over the US air base at Ramstein in Germany in early December.

According to Reuters, the US Air Force spokesperson said there were “no impacts to base residents, facilities, or assets.”

“In concert with host nation authorities, we continue to monitor the airspace to ensure safety and security of the community,” the spokesperson added.

A security source told Reuters that while German authorities had not identified the drone operators, they had ruled out the possibility of the drones being flown by amateurs.

The drone sightings at Ramstein were first reported by German news magazine Spiegel, which mentioned a German security report highlighting several unexplained drone sightings near the base on the evening of December 3 and 4.

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Spiegel also noted that drones were spotted over facilities of German companies Rheinmetall and BASF.

“The safety of BASF sites is our top priority,” Reuters quoted a company spokesperson as saying in an emailed statement.

“We therefore keep an eye on suspicious activities at all times and work closely with the relevant security authorities,” the spokesperson added.

Rheinmetall, which is working with Ukraine and its European supporters to supply Kyiv with weapons, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment, reported Reuters.

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Drones have been spotted flying over strategically important facilities in Germany in recent months, including a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Brunsbuettel close to the North Sea. Prosecutors were investigating that incident on suspicion of “agent activity for sabotage purposes”.

German intelligence chiefs have warned that the country’s support for Ukraine in its war with Russia makes it a target for possible sabotage attempts, with recent security incidents at military barracks raising alarm further.

With inputs from agencies