Israeli intelligence played a key role in alerting British authorities to an imminent terror plot targeting RAF Fairford, according to UK officials. The Gloucestershire air base, which has been used by the United States for military operations, was the focus of a suspected Iranian-backed attack that led to the arrest of five British men over the weekend.

British counter-terror units detained the suspects on Sunday after reports of three suspicious vans parked near RAF Fairford. Authorities arrested the men on suspicion of planning an attack, though all five were released on bail within 36 hours. Law enforcement agencies have maintained heightened security around the base and continue to investigate potential threats.

A senior Israeli official confirmed that Israeli intelligence agencies had warned their British counterparts about the planned attack in advance. The official described the intelligence sharing as a significant demonstration of alliance support, coming amid recent diplomatic tensions following the UK's decision to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. Despite these political strains, cooperation on security matters has persisted.

UK Home Secretary Andy Burnham pointed toward Iran’s involvement in the plot, underscoring ongoing concerns about Iran’s use of hybrid tactics to undermine Western security. Iranian authorities, however, have categorically denied any responsibility for the incident.

The event has sparked political debate within the UK, with some critics accusing the Labour government of enacting sanctions on Israel for domestic political reasons, despite the intelligence cooperation between the two countries. Counter-terrorism officials have reiterated their assessment that the plot likely had Iranian backing and emphasized the need for continued vigilance against such threats.

Both the Home Office and the Foreign Office declined to provide further comment on the incident. Security experts remain focused on preventing any future attempts to target RAF Fairford or other sites used by Western military forces.