NATO jets shoot down drone over Latvia

NATO fighter jets from Italy and Turkey shot down a drone that breached Latvian airspace on Friday, according to alliance and Latvian authorities. The Italian Eurofighters and Turkish F-16s were deployed under NATO command to destroy the unmanned aircraft. Latvia's military had issued an air alert, advising residents in the impacted regions to seek shelter indoors.

The foreign drone entered Latvian airspace over the Balvi region, likely due to Russian electronic warfare activity. Although the drone's origin remained unclear, NATO initiated an investigation. Latvian authorities did not classify the drone as Ukrainian, although the reference to Russian electronic warfare suggested that a Ukrainian drone, en route to target Russia, may have been diverted off course.

This incident echoed previous drone incursions into Latvian airspace, including one shot down in early June and others that crashed while heading towards northwestern Russia. NATO countries along the eastern flank of the alliance have regularly encountered drone intrusions since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Romanian and Spanish fighter jets were also sent to Romanian airspace following a drone entry near Ukraine.

Latvia, along with Estonia and Lithuania, lacks its own fighter aircraft, so NATO nations take turns guarding their skies. The Italian Eurofighters responsible for the interception were stationed at Siauliai air base in Lithuania.