Latvia issues air threat alert, rescinds after fighter jets shoot down drone

Latvia issued and subsequently rescinded an air threat alert on Friday for its eastern regions bordering Russia and Belarus. The alert was lifted less than an hour after its issuance when allied fighter jets successfully shot down a drone that had entered Latvian airspace. The Latvian Armed Forces announced on X/Twitter, "APDRAUDĒJUMS BEIDZIES! Informējam, ka apdraudējums gaisa telpā ir beidzies. Sabiedroto iznīcinātaji ir sekmīgi notriekuši gaisa telpā ielidojošo bezpilota lidaparātu!" ("THREAT OVER! We inform that the threat in the airspace is over. Allied fighters have successfully shot down the drone that entered the airspace!"). In a related development, Finland, which also shares a border with Russia, imposed a temporary restricted area for aviation and maritime traffic in the eastern Gulf of Finland.