NATO intercepts drone that entered Lithuanian airspace
<p>NATO fighter jets intercepted a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace near Vilnius, the country's National Crisis Management Center said.</p><p>Earlier, it was reported that the fighter jets had been scrambled to the area amid concerns over a possible drone incursion.</p>
On Tuesday night, a drone breached Lithuania's airspace, prompting NATO fighter jets to take action, according to the nation's president. The drone reportedly entered the country from Belarus around midnight, according to initial reports. Lithuania's leader, Gitanas Nausėda, confirmed the incident on social media, stating that the drone was "destroyed by NATO fighter jets."
The origins of the drone remain under investigation, according to a spokesperson for the Lithuanian national crisis management center. Prior to the incident, drone alerts were issued in Vilnius and the surrounding area. President Nausėda emphasized the ongoing threat of Russian aggression toward Ukraine, highlighting the importance of Lithuania's vigilant stance in the region.
He reaffirmed Lithuania's commitment to defending its airspace alongside NATO allies. The southern and eastern borders of Lithuania share extensive territory with Belarus, a close ally of Russia. In recent times, military drone incursions have become a recurring issue across Europe, particularly since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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