‘No one needs more fuel on the fire.’ Italy pushes back on report that CIA warned of possible Russian sea-launched drone attacks.

Italian officials dismissed a report alleging that the CIA had warned Spain, France, and Italy of a potential Russian attack using sea-launched drones. The Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported on September 24, citing sources, that the CIA had cautioned these three European nations about the possibility of Russian forces using Geran-5 drones hidden in shipping containers.

However, a source close to Lithuania's Defense Ministry stated that Russian forces could employ such drones to target Russian military airfields. Russian forces have previously launched drones from ships, and Sweden reportedly shot down a drone in February 2026, while German authorities blamed a drone attack on Leipzig Airport on Russia.

British expert Keir Giles suggested that Southern Europe might be a target for such an operation due to its political fragility, as all three countries — Spain, France, and Italy — are set to hold elections in 2027. Giles also mentioned that Spain lacks the air defenses necessary to effectively counter drone attacks from the sea. French authorities reportedly took the CIA warning seriously, increasing their readiness for possible drone strikes.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto strongly rejected the El Mundo report, stating that raising alarm about such attacks would not help and that there was no evidence to back it up. He emphasized that Italy, along with its fellow countries, was already enduring difficult and tense times, and that no one needed more fuel on the fire. The report comes amid ongoing tensions and speculation about potential Russian escalation through hybrid warfare and sabotage targeting European countries allied with Ukraine.