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NATO fighter jets shot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace after the country’s armed forces warned residents about a possible aerial threat, Latvia’s military said.
The National Armed Forces of Latvia announced the interception in a statement on the U.S.-based social media platform X.
“Allied fighter jets have successfully shot down a drone that entered Latvia’s airspace,” the military said.
The aircraft were operating as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, according to the Latvian statement. The military’s post announcing the interception also included a French flag.
The Latvian military did not provide details about the drone’s origin, type or flight path. It also did not specify where the drone was intercepted or whether debris had been recovered.
Before announcing that the drone had been shot down, Latvia’s armed forces issued a warning about a possible threat in the country’s airspace.
The warning covered the municipalities of Ludza, Balvi and Aluksne.
“Be prepared. We inform you that there is a possible threat in Latvia’s airspace,” the military said.
The National Armed Forces said no further action was required at that stage. It added that residents would receive a cell broadcast notification with instructions if the situation changed or the threat escalated.
In an earlier message, citizens were asked to move indoors while authorities monitored the possible aerial threat.
The warning remained in effect while NATO aircraft were scrambled under the Baltic Air Policing mission.
Latvia’s armed forces later confirmed that allied fighter jets had intercepted and destroyed the drone after it entered the country’s airspace.
After the interception, the Latvian military issued a separate update announcing that the possible aerial threat had ended.
“We inform that the possible threat in the airspace has ended,” the armed forces said.
A second notice repeated that the air threat was no longer active and that no additional action was required from the public.
The military did not report any casualties or damage in the statements provided.
It also did not release further information about the operation, the aircraft involved or the circumstances surrounding the drone’s entry into Latvian airspace.
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