Unidentified drones were detected over Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, raising fresh security concerns at one of the most sensitive military sites in the US capital, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth are reported to live. The incident was first reported by the Washington Post, which said it had spoken to three people briefed on the matter. Reuters separately reported that US officials had detected the aircraft above the Army base and that the origin of the drones had not been determined.
According to the reports, the drones were seen over the base during a period of heightened military alert, with US officials said to be monitoring possible threats more closely amid the wider US and Israeli war against Iran. The appearance of unidentified aircraft over Fort McNair was serious enough that officials weighed whether Rubio and Hegseth should be moved from the installation. The Washington Post reported that the two men ultimately remained there, with a senior administration official saying they had not been relocated. Reuters said it had not been able to independently verify all elements of the report immediately.
