Ramstein and Spangdahlem.. Iran's threat affects American bases in Germany

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German reports warned of the high level of danger facing American military bases in Germany, in light of intelligence information about the possibility of targeting American facilities by Iran or parties supported by it, according to what was reported by Reuters.

In a related context, the New York Times quoted an American official, who explained that the Israeli warning specifically referred to the Ramstein and Spangdahlem bases in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The Israeli warning was based on intelligence information about the possibility of carrying out Iranian-backed attacks against American facilities in Europe, without the information specifying a date for an attack or a declared plan to target the two German bases.

Ramstein Base is one of the most important US military installations in Europe, as it hosts the headquarters of the US Air Forces in Europe and Africa, and is also linked to the NATO Air Command.

As for the Spangdahlem base, it is used by the US Air Force for air missions and operations. The two bases are located in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany.

The warnings come at a time when Iran has indicated its readiness to expand the scope of potential targets if US attacks resume.

On October 1, Reuters quoted Iranian officials as saying that Tehran was considering expanding the scope of the potential response to include assets linked to the United States in countries that support American military operations, and perhaps locations outside the Middle East.

The Ramstein base also appeared in statements attributed to the former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Yahya Rahim Safavi, reported by media outlets linked to Iran in September, when he referred to European bases used by American forces in their operations against Iran, including Ramstein in Germany, the Aviano base in Italy, and Fairford in Britain.

The new warnings gain greater importance after the developments witnessed by the British Fairford base, which is used by the US Air Force, where the British police arrested a number of people on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act near the base.

American sources told Reuters that a suspected plot, linked to Iran, included the possibility of launching a complex attack using drones on the base, which prompted the United States to withdraw its B-1 bombers from it.

US President Donald Trump announced that a threat linked to Iran was behind the transfer of American bombers from Fairford, while Tehran denied any involvement in the suspected plot.

In the latest developments in the case, British police announced, on Tuesday, the arrest of a 22-year-old British man in London, becoming the seventh person to be arrested as part of the investigation into the suspected plot to target the Fairford base, according to what was reported by Reuters.

The police said that the man was arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, while the authorities continue their investigations into the case.

The inclusion of Ramstein and Spangdahlem among security warnings does not mean that there is a declared Iranian decision to target them, as available reports confirm that intelligence information speaks of a potential threat to American facilities in Europe, without specifying a date or an imminent operation against the two bases.