French NATO planes shot down a drone that had entered the airspace of Latvia. The Latvian army issued an air threat alert for the eastern regions.

The armed forces of Latvia issued an air threat alert on Monday morning after a drone entered the airspace from Russia.

The army spokesperson confirmed the incident, and NATO aircraft were immediately scrambled. French fighter jets managed to shoot down the intruding drone, according to an announcement made by the Latvian army on social media. An alert was issued for the eastern localities of Ludza, Balvi, and Alūksne, and residents were informed via the mobile phone network. In the city of Rēzekne and the locality of Ludza, the alert level was raised to orange, while in Balvi a yellow alert is in effect.

Latvia, like the other Baltic states, has been subjected to repeated tests from Russian or Ukrainian drones. Recently, a political crisis erupted after a Ukrainian drone caused damage, leading to the dismissal of the Minister of Defense and the fall of the government.