US EditionNATO hit by aerial incursion from Russia's closest ally
- Overnight Friday, Poland's armed forces said objects entered Polish airspace from Belarus and were likely balloons, prompting temporary civilian flight restrictions over Podlaskie province, northeast Poland.
- Over the last month, Poland has reported several balloon incursions from Belarus, Russia's closest ally, including dozens on December 26 and an increase on January 17 with smuggling balloons.
- Warsaw summoned the Belarusian chargé d'affaires over a previous airspace breach, and Newsweek contacted the Belarusian foreign ministry for comment; Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it is `the closest we have been to open conflict since World War II`.
- The development follows a September move when NATO announced it would beef up its air presence after around 20 Russian drones crossed into Poland on September 10, adding to regional security concerns.
- Authorities say the launches are hybrid war tactics likely carrying contraband, a tactic Moscow is accused of conducting that raises fears among the alliance's eastern members.
30 Articles
30 Articles
Belarus has sent balloons over the border into Poland for two consecutive nights, which the Polish armed forces say is intended to test the country's air defenses. In the fall, balloons flew into Lithuanian airspace for nights, severely disrupting the country's air traffic and even forcing the country's leadership to temporarily declare a state of emergency.
Flight objects from Belarus cause trouble again and again in nearby NATO countries. Now Poland reports a new incident.
Polish radar systems are rediscovering alleged balloons from Belarus. The army does not rule out testing the responsiveness of the NATO country.
Poland closes airspace after Belarusian balloon incursion
Polish authorities temporarily closed the airspace along the northern part of Poland's border with Belarus overnight on Jan. 30-31 after unidentified objects — believed to be Belarusian smuggling balloons — were detected in the region.
On the night of January 31, the Polish military once again recorded the entry of objects into the airspace of the country from the side of Belarus.
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