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Air traffic in the vicinity of Eindhoven, in the southern Netherlands, has been temporarily halted following the detection of unidentified drones near the airport.
The initial drone sightings occurred late Friday near the Volkel Air Force Base. Defense measures, including attempted interceptions, were deployed, but the drones evaded capture.
After further drone activity was reported near Eindhoven Airport on Saturday, authorities closed the airspace to both civilian and military aircraft. Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans stated that “counter-drone assets” were on standby.
This incident is the latest in a series of similar occurrences at military installations and airfields across Northern Europe in recent months. Russia has denied any involvement in these incidents.
Besides being a base for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, Volkel Air Base also hosts a US Air Force squadron as part of NATO.
For security reasons, officials have withheld details regarding the initial drone detection on Friday and the specific actions taken to intercept them.
Drone sightings have been reported at other Dutch air bases in recent weeks, as well as at facilities in neighboring countries such as Belgium, Denmark, and Germany.
Investigations into these incidents, which began in September, have been hampered by a lack of evidence regarding the drones’ origins, as they often depart after a brief period.
Some European officials have attributed the drone sightings to “hybrid warfare” tactics potentially employed by Russia, noting that the affected nations are all allies of Ukraine.
The Kremlin has refuted any connection to these incursions.
Defence ministers from 10 EU countries have agreed to establish a “drone wall” in response to the incidents, while some individual nations are implementing enhanced anti-drone defense measures.
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