WASHINGTON: US officials have detected multiple unidentified drones flying over Fort Lesley J. McNair, a key Army installation in Washington where Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reside, according to people briefed on the matter.
The drones were observed during a single night within the past 10 days, triggering increased security measures and a White House meeting to assess the situation and determine a response, reports the Washington Post, US and Western Media.
Officials said the origin of the drones remains unknown, raising concerns about potential security risks amid heightened tensions linked to ongoing US military operations involving Iran.
The sightings come as Washington has elevated its security posture globally. The State Department has instructed US diplomatic missions worldwide to immediately conduct security reviews, citing “the ongoing and developing situation in the Middle East and the potential for spillover effects.”
The US military is closely monitoring potential threats to senior government figures amid the Trump administration’s war on Iran, but the origin of the drones that breached the airspace over Fort Lesley J. McNair remains unknown, according to a report by the Washington Post.
Several US military bases have raised their force-protection levels to “Charlie,” a designation used when intelligence indicates a possible attack. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey and MacDill Air Force Base in Florida — home to US Central Command, which oversees operations against Iran — were both elevated to the heightened alert status this week,
MacDill Air Force Base has faced two separate security scares in recent days, including a suspicious package that forced the closure of its visitors centre for several hours on Monday, and an unspecified incident on Wednesday that triggered a shelter-in-place order across the installation.
The only higher alert level than “Charlie” is “Delta,” which indicates that an attack is imminent or has already occurred.
“To ensure the safety and security of our personnel and mission, commanders adjust their installation’s security posture in line with local threat assessments,” an Air Force spokesperson said.
Citing three people briefed on the matter, the newspaper said multiple drone sightings occurred on a single night within the past 10 days, prompting an immediate security review and a White House meeting to determine a response.
The drone incident prompted discussions among officials about potentially relocating Rubio and Hegseth, though a senior administration official said no such move has been carried out.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell declined to comment on the matter, saying the department does not discuss the movements of senior officials for security reasons.
Separately, the FBI is investigating a suspicious package that led to a partial shutdown of MacDill Air Force Base earlier this week. Another incident at the base also triggered a temporary shelter-in-place order.
Officials at Fort McNair said they are actively monitoring the situation in coordination with law enforcement and interagency partners.
“Our top priority is the safety of our service members and civilian personnel,” a spokesperson said, adding that there is currently no credible threat to the base but that precautionary measures remain in place.
Fort McNair hosts the National Defense University and senior military leadership, and has increasingly been used to house high-level officials amid growing security concerns.
Similar drone-related incidents have occurred in recent years involving senior US figures, including during the 2024 presidential campaign, as well as amid ongoing tensions with Iran following the 2020 killing of General Qasem Soleimani.
