Capitals, Sept. 1 (SANA) Romania, Estonia and Latvia issued airspace alerts overnight after drone-related threats near their borders, prompting military aircraft to scramble, officials said Tuesday.
In Romania, radar systems detected two aerial targets near Vylkove at around 11:30 p.m. local time amid Russian strikes on Ukraine’s Odesa region, according to the Defense Ministry. Two Spanish F-18 fighter jets and a Romanian military helicopter were scrambled. No violation of Romanian airspace was detected, and the alert was lifted at 1:05 a.m.
In Estonia, several drones were detected near the eastern border and the border with Latvia, with some entering Estonian airspace, according to Estonian public broadcaster ERR. Turkish fighter jets participating in NATO‘s air-policing mission were scrambled, and the alert was lifted around 6 a.m.
Latvia issued two airspace alerts overnight over threats detected in Ludza and Alūksne municipalities. NATO patrol fighters were scrambled, while Latvian military officials later said a drone had left the country and headed toward Estonia.
The incidents come amid heightened security concerns along NATO’s eastern flank as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues.
R.A/M.F
