NATO Intercepts Five Russian Military Aircraft Near Latvian โขCoast
ล iauliai, lithuania – NATO fighter jets scrambled โon Tuesday to interceptโข five Russian military aircraft flying nearโฃ Latvianโ airspace, โฃaccording to a statement from NATO’s Air Force Command. โThe โขincidentโ underscores heightened tensions in the region adn NATO’s commitment to safeguarding โits eastern flank.
The Russian aircraft – one Su-30, one โคsu-35, and three MiG-31sโฃ – where detected flying west of the โLatvian Baltic Sea coast and approaching NATO airspace without adhering to international โflight security regulations. Twoโ Hungarian fighter jets, operating from ล iauliai airfield in Lithuania,โค were dispatched to escort the Russian planes.
NATO emphasized Hungary‘s swift response as โa presentation of the alliance’s dedication to โขthe protectionโค and security of the Baltic states and eastern Europe. After the escort, the Hungarian jets safely returned to base.
Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds stated in an interview with Latvian radio that the incident promptedโฃ NATO toโฃ reinforce its vigilance and preparedness.”Russian fighter jets meanโ that NATO has activated his actions in this situation and willโข work evenโ more โขsteadfast,” Spruds said. He further notedโ that Russian military aircraft approaching or โขviolating NATO airspace โhas become a โrecurring pattern.
the incident follows โขaโข recent increase in Russian provocations near NATOโฃ territory, including drone flights around NATO capitals, according to reporting from Delfi.lt, which first reportedโ the โincident.