Drones trigger air alert in Latvia and Estonia, NATO jets scramble

According to Estonian national broadcaster ERR, drones triggered a nighttime air alert in Latvia and subsequently entered Estonian airspace, where NATO Baltic Air Policing jets continued to search for them. At 3:11 a.m., the Estonian Defence Forces issued an air threat warning for several counties. Lieutenant Colonel Uku Arold, head of the Strategic Communication Department of the Estonian Defence Forces, said drones had violated Estonian airspace and that Turkish Air Force jets stationed at Amari Air Base in Estonia as part of NATO's rotating air defense mission were scrambled in response. "There were drones that moved parallel to the eastern border of Estonia and also to that of Latvia, then entering Estonian territory, which is why we launched the alert," Arold said. The alert was lifted before 6 a.m., according to ERR. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna also said drones had "entered Estonian airspace" during the night. In response, NATO jets took off from Amari Air Base. Later, the Estonian Defence Forces lifted the air alert. Tsahkna emphasized that NATO reacted quickly and exactly as expected: "The Alliance is vigilant and ready to protect allied territory."