CIA warns Russia may strike Spain, France, or Italy with Gerbera drones

The CIA has warned European allies that Russia may launch Gerbera drones from civilian ships disguised as commercial vessels to strike targets in Spain, France, or Italy, according to Spanish newspaper El Mundo. The alert follows CIA Director John Ratcliffe's August visit to Moscow. The Gerbera is a small, cheap Russian drone weighing 18 kilograms with a 600-kilometer range, carrying a small explosive charge intended for symbolic disruption rather than mass destruction. Russia has previously tested maritime drone launches, including a February incident in the Öresund Strait and attacks near German and Polish airspace. Analysts say Moscow targets politically vulnerable southern European nations lacking integrated air defenses, with Spain, France, and Italy also holding elections in 2027. The warning pressures Spain's government, which has resisted NATO defense spending increases, straining relations with Washington.