The emergency meeting will allow the group to issue fresh condemnations against Russia and seek to diplomatically isolate Moscow further. It will also provide Russia a chance to plead its case; in the past, the venturing of munitions into NATO airspace has usually been explained as an accident or Ukrainian air defenses.<\/p>\n

The drone incursion marked a significant escalation in the war in Ukraine, marking the first time NATO forces had fired shots since Russia invaded in February 2022. Polish F-16 fighter jets, Dutch F-35 fighter jets, Italian Airborne Warning and Control System surveillance planes, and NATO mid-air refuelling aircraft all took part in the response, according to<\/a> Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The assets used to shoot down the drones are significantly more expensive than the relatively cheap drones themselves, a problem stressed by military analysts over the past few years.<\/p>\n

Russia has said it did not intend to hit any targets in Poland and declined to comment further.<\/p>\n

Also on Friday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte<\/a> announced the launch of “Eastern Sentry,” an effort to boost the air defences along NATO’s border with Russia.<\/p>\n

“The previous way we orchestrated ourselves on the eastern flank is we had individual air policing actions<\/a> in different locations and we had individual ground-based air defenses<\/a> in several locations as well, and then, of course, we’re working with nations on a case-by-case basis, as we see threats,” Rutte said. “This is going to be a comprehensive and integrated approach, and with additional resources, we’ll be able to plug gaps in the line.”<\/p>\n

NATO ANNOUNCES ‘EASTERN SENTRY’ BOOST FOLLOWING RUSSIAN DRONE INCURSION INTO POLAND<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The new effort is aimed at combating the use of drones, specifically, he said.<\/p>\n

The Security Council met the previous day to discuss Israel’s strike against Hamas leaders sheltering in Qatar. The entire body, including the United States, condemned Israel over the act.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n