Dobrindt: 'We Are a Daily Target of Hybrid Warfare'

Germany is a daily target of "hybrid warfare" from foreign powers seeking to destabilize the country, warned German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt following a suspected drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport.

"We are not at war, but we are a daily target of hybrid warfare," Dobrindt told "Bild am Sonntag." He stated that the "tangible strategic goal of foreign powers is to defeat us politically and socially." These efforts, he explained, involve espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks, and covert actions designed to destabilize Germany and sow fear. Specific countries were not named in the initial reports.

The incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport, where a drone laden with explosives was discovered, has prompted the Federal Prosecutor's Office to take over the investigation due to the case's significance. Dobrindt had previously described it as a "hybrid attack scenario," not ruling out foreign powers as perpetrators. The event has fueled a broad debate about drone defense for critical infrastructure.

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We are not at war, but we are a daily target of hybrid warfare. The tangible strategic goal of foreign powers is to defeat us politically and socially.

Adding to the concern, US media outlets have reported potential links to Russia. The "Wall Street Journal," citing US officials familiar with intelligence reports, suggested the explosive-laden drone likely belonged to the Russian leadership. CNN, quoting a US defense official in Europe, stated that the US concluded the drone was operated by a Russian intelligence service. The German military also confirmed another drone incident, reporting the sighting of two drones over a Bundeswehr site in North Rhine-Westphalia, which houses a protected material depot and specialists for the Patriot air defense system.

In response, Dobrindt highlighted Germany's expansion of drone research at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) test airport in Cochstedt, Saxony-Anhalt. "Together with the DLR, we are establishing a unique facility nationwide with the new technology center," he said, noting that technologies for drone security will be researched, developed, and tested there. Both Dobrindt and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius have prioritized drone defense for some time, recognizing its importance in domestic security.

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Together with the DLR, we are establishing a unique facility nationwide with the new technology center.