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By Jordan King
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NATO member Romania scrambled two F-16 fighter jets after Russia launched a drone attack on "civilian and infrastructure targets" in Ukraine near the Romanian border, the country's Ministry of National Defense said.
A total of 17 drones were detected in the border area near Romania's northern Tulcea County in the early hours of Wednesday morning, but did not enter Romanian airspace, the ministry said.
Why It Matters
The incident underscores the increasing frequency with which Russia’s war in Ukraine is affecting NATO member states bordering the conflict zone. Romania, like Poland and other eastern flank countries, has faced repeated airspace concerns as Russian strikes near its borders intensify.
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Such developments raise the risk of escalation involving NATO, which has pledged to defend its territory while avoiding direct confrontation with Russia. Scrambling fighter jets in response to aerial threats has become a standard precaution, but each incident adds pressure on alliance defenses.
What To Know
The two F-16 aircraft from the Air Police Combat Service took off from the 86th Air Base in Borcea, while anti-aircraft systems were put into firing positions, Romania’s Defense Ministry said.
An alert was issued to the people in the northern part of Tulcea County at around 3:44 a.m. local time, and it ended just under two hours later.
The “extreme alert message” warned residents of the possibility of objects falling from the air, according to the Romanian news site Știri pe surse.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, when Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded on February 24, 2022, people in four counties in Romania have received 70 of these “extreme alert messages,” most of which have been in Tulcea County, Știri pe surse reports.
At the end of last month, fellow NATO country Poland scrambled a pair of fighter jets and an early warning aircraft after detecting long-range Russian airstrikes on Ukraine.
Poland frequently scrambles military aircraft when Moscow launches missile and drone attacks on Ukraine.
Russian drones and missiles entering NATO airspace have not been treated as attacks on the alliance so far.
What People Are Saying
Romania’ Ministry of National Defense said: "The forces of the Ministry of National Defense remain vigilant, maintaining the necessary surveillance and coordination measures to protect the population and the national territory.”
What Happens Next
Romanian authorities said they will continue monitoring the situation and maintaining coordination with NATO allies as Russian strikes near the border persist.
The increased use of drones in attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure is expected to remain a key challenge for regional air defenses. NATO members along the eastern flank are likely to continue heightened patrols and rapid-response measures as the war shows no signs of easing.
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