Drone Breaches Latvian Airspace Again: "NATO Fighter Jet Shoots It Down"
Drone Incursions Escalate in the Baltic States
An unidentified drone has once again breached the airspace of Latvia, a Baltic Sea country bordering Russia, prompting authorities to launch an emergency response. A North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) fighter jet was scrambled and intercepted the drone.
According to AFP, on June 8 (local time), an unidentified drone entered the airspace over Verzgale, an eastern border region of Latvia. In response, Latvian authorities issued an air raid alert and ordered residents to evacuate. Immediately after the alert, a French Rafale fighter jet belonging to NATO forces took off to defend Latvian airspace and shot down the drone. As Latvia does not have its own air force, it currently relies on NATO for airspace defense.
The country of origin for the drone has not yet been identified. Both NATO and Latvian defense authorities are investigating, considering the possibility that the drone may have strayed during drone exchanges between Russia and Ukraine. Recently, incidents of drones crossing borders and entering the airspace of Baltic Sea countries, including Latvia, have been increasing.
On May 19 last month, a NATO F-16 fighter jet fired a missile and shot down a drone over the area near Lake Vortsjarv in southern Estonia. It was confirmed that the drone had been launched by Ukrainian forces toward Russia but veered off course and crossed into Estonia.
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In particular, Latvia has recently faced political controversy over the need to strengthen its air defense network due to repeated drone incursions. This controversy led to the collapse of the coalition government last month. Former Prime Minister Evika Silina resigned on May 14, taking responsibility for the failure to expand air defense and secure airspace protection.
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