CIA warns Russia may launch drone attacks on Mediterranean states
The CIA has warned European governments that Russia is planning drone attacks on Spain, France, or Italy, potentially launched from merchant ships in the Mediterranean, according to Spanish newspaper El Mundo. The warning follows CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow on August 25. The Russian Gerbera drone, weighing up to 18 kilograms with a 600-kilometer range, could be hidden in shipping containers and catapult-launched from international waters. French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency defense meeting on September 16 in response to the intelligence. Experts assess the attacks would target political and economic disruption rather than military destruction, potentially closing airports or starting fires. Russia has escalated drone activity in Europe, including a recent attack on Leipzig airport, and Moscow justifies such actions by claiming Western support for Ukraine makes those countries legitimate targets.