© Ramstein Air Base (Facebook)There have been sightings of mysterious drones at the air base and other locations in Germany recently.
Citing the German magazine Spiegel, Reuters reported that unidentified drones were spotted above the U.S.'s Ramstein Air Base on December 3 and 4 during the evening. Drones had also been seen above the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall and the chemicals group BASF, the report said.
The origin of the drones is unknown, and the drone sightings come as German intelligence chiefs have rung the alarm that the country's support of Ukraine could make it a target for sabotage attempts, The Guardian reported.
In a statement to the news outlet RBC-Ukraine, the U.S. Army confirmed the drone sightings at Ramstein Air Base: "In early December, several small unmanned aerial vehicles were spotted in the area and over Ramstein Air Force Base; they had no impact on the base's residents or the facilities and military equipment located there."
The drone sightings at the base are notable because it is a "no drone zone," meaning drone usage is prohibited.
Newsweek contacted the U.S. Department of Defense for comment via email, Ramstein Air Base via a contact form on its website and the German Federal Foreign Office via email.
A spokesperson for BASF told The Guardian: "The safety of BASF sites is our top priority. We therefore keep an eye on suspicious activities at all times and work closely with the relevant security authorities."
The drone sightings in Germany follow news of drone sightings at U.S. Air Force bases in the U.K. between November 20 and 22. Small, unmanned aerial systems were seen flying near Royal Air Force bases in Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell in eastern England.
Regarding the drones in England, the U.S. Air Force said:
"The number of UASs fluctuated and they ranged in size/configuration. The UASs were actively monitored and installation leaders determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents or critical infrastructure."Drone sightings have also occurred in the United States, with drones being spotted in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Minnesota.
"To protect operational security, we do not discuss our specific force protection measures, but retain the right to protect the installation. We continue to monitor our airspace and are working with host-nation authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities and assets."
Since November, the FBI has received 3,000 reports regarding drone sightings, with the majority taking place in New Jersey.
In a joint statement with the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security commented on the mysterious drone sightings on the East coast, saying there was "no evidence" that the reported drone sightings posed a "national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus."
Although the origin of the drones seen in the U.S. is unknown, Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon's deputy press secretary, said upon initial assessment that the drones were not linked to foreign adversaries.
New Jersey lawmakers have since proposed introducing stricter regulations regarding drone usage in the state, and two Republican New Jersey representatives, Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, have called for military action.
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