Barksdale Air Force Base, a strategic U.S. military site home to B-52 bombers equipped for nuclear missions, recently identified “multiple unauthorized drones” in its vicinity, according to a base representative’s statement to Fox News Digital.
“During the week of March 9th, we observed several unauthorized drones entering our airspace,” a spokesperson from Barksdale AFB confirmed on Friday to Fox News Digital.
The spokesperson emphasized, “Operating a drone over a military installation poses serious safety risks and is considered a federal crime.”
In response to these incursions, base officials are collaborating with both federal and local law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the drone activity, as noted by the spokesperson.
“Ensuring the security of our base and the safety of our personnel is paramount,” the spokesperson added. “We remain committed to closely monitoring our airspace to prevent any potential threats.”
“The security of our installation and the safety of our people are top priorities, and we will continue to vigilantly monitor our airspace,” the official added.
Barksdale is east of Shreveport in Louisiana and encompasses 22,000 acres with a population of around 15,000.
The drone detections come amid heightened security at Air Force bases in the U.S. as the war in Iran continues.
A shelter-in-place order was issued on March 9 at the base that was lifted shortly after, but the drone sights continued through the week.
US Air Force B-52H long range strategic bombers sit on the tarmac at Barksdale Air Force Base in 2007. (Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images)
Mick Mulroy, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, told ABC News it didn’t look like an average drone enthusiast.
Bombs wait to be loaded on to a B-52H long range bomber at Barksdale Air Force Base in 2007. (Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images)
“It looked like this was deliberate and intentional to see just how they would react,” he said. “Seeing this probe on a base in the United States is very troubling.”
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