CIA Warns Russia May Strike Spain, France, or Italy With Drones From Mediterranean Ships

The CIA has warned European governments that Russia may launch drone attacks against Spain, France, or Italy from ships in the Mediterranean Sea, according to the Spanish newspaper El Mundo. Moscow could use Gerbera drones with a range of up to 600 kilometers for such strikes. The warning was reportedly based on U.S. intelligence about Kremlin escalation plans and was shared with several European governments. The Gerbera drone is about two meters long, has a 2.5-meter wingspan, weighs up to 18 kilograms, and can reach speeds of around 160 km/h. A commercial vessel could carry several such devices, which are easier to launch than larger Shahed or Geran drones. From 200-300 kilometers offshore, flight time would be roughly 75 minutes to two hours. The report notes that the small warhead could not destroy major infrastructure but might cause fires, damage unprotected equipment, or temporarily close a port or airport, aiming for political and economic impact rather than just physical damage. Lithuania received the information shortly after CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow on August 25, and officials in Spain, France, and Italy were also informed. On August 26, President Donald Trump called the visit "semi-routine" and denied it was linked to threats of a Russian strike on Britain.