Italian Eurofighter jets shot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace, and an air alert was later lifted. Latvia's military said Russian electronic warfare over the Balvi region may have diverted the unmanned aircraft, raising the possibility it was a Ukrainian drone. Previous stray drones prompted a political crisis in Latvia; NATO allies rotate Baltic air policing and the Italian jets are based in Šiauliai, Lithuania.
Italian Eurofighters Shoot Down Drone Over Latvia After Suspected Electronic Jamming
FILE PHOTO - A German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon jet fighter flies over a NATO airport in Romania. (is associated with: «NATO jets shoot down foreign drone after it enters Latvian airspace») Christophe Gateau/dpa
Italian Eurofighter jets intercepted and shot down a foreign drone after it entered Latvian airspace, Latvia's military said on Friday.
What Happened
Latvia's military announced on the social platform X that an air alert was lifted after NATO aircraft intercepted the unmanned aerial vehicle. Authorities had earlier urged residents across the Baltic state to stay indoors and seek shelter while the alert was in effect.
Origin and Possible Cause
Officials did not immediately identify the drone's owner or operator. The military reported that the drone entered Latvian airspace following what it described as Russian electronic warfare activity over the Balvi region. That assessment raised the possibility that a Ukrainian drone, conducting strikes on targets in north-western Russia overnight (according to Latvian media), had been diverted off course by electronic interference.
"An air alert has been lifted after the interception of a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle," Latvia's defence authorities wrote on X.
Context and Past Incidents
NATO fighter jets previously shot down a stray drone over Latvia in early June. Several Ukrainian drones launched against targets in north-western Russia have drifted into Latvian airspace in recent months and crashed without causing major damage or injuries. Those events contributed to a political crisis in Latvia and helped precipitate a change of government.
Shortly after taking office in late May, Latvia's new government signed an agreement with Ukraine to strengthen cooperation on drone defence.
Air Policing in the Baltics
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania do not operate their own fighter jets; NATO allies rotate responsibility for policing their airspace. The Italian Eurofighter aircraft involved in this interception are based at the Šiauliai military air base in Lithuania.
Background: Latvia is a member of NATO and the EU, has a population of roughly 1.9 million and shares an eastern border with Russia.
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