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🇮🇹 Italy /Conflict & Security

Drones alert Latvia and cross into Estonia, prompting NATO fighter jets to scramble

From ANSA · () Italian

Translated from Italian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Outcome reported
  • Drones triggered an overnight air alert in Latvia and later entered Estonian airspace, according to Estonian and Latvian news agencies.
  • Estonia issued the alert at 3:11 a.m., and Turkish fighter jets stationed at Amari Air Base scrambled under NATO’s Baltic air-policing mission.
  • Estonia lifted the alert before 6 a.m.; Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said NATO responded quickly and as planned.

Drones moving along the eastern borders of Latvia and Estonia triggered a nighttime air alert and sent Turkish NATO fighter jets into the sky over Estonia.

Estonia’s Defence Forces issued an air-threat warning for several counties at 3:11 a.m. The drones had first set off an alert in Latvia before crossing into Estonian airspace, according to Estonian public broadcaster ERR and news agencies in both Baltic countries.

There were drones that moved parallel to Estonia’s eastern border and also Latvia’s, then entered Estonian territory, which is why we issued the alert.

— Uku AroldThe Estonian Defence Forces spokesman explained why the air alert was issued and fighter jets were launched.

Lt. Col. Uku Arold, head of the Estonian Defence Forces’ Strategic Communications Department, said the drones moved parallel to the eastern borders of both countries before entering Estonia. The breach prompted the launch of fighter jets from Amari Air Base, where Turkish aircraft are deployed as part of NATO’s rotating Baltic air-defence mission.

The alert ended before 6 a.m., after the allied aircraft continued searching for the drones. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna also confirmed that the drones had entered Estonian airspace. He said NATO had reacted rapidly and according to plan: “The Alliance is vigilant and ready to protect allied territory.”

The Alliance is vigilant and ready to protect allied territory.

— Margus TsahknaEstonia’s foreign minister described NATO’s response to the drone incursion.
About this summary

Originally published by ANSA in Italian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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