Lithuania closes Vilnius airport, NATO summons jets in response to possible drone

Vilnius: Lithuania on Sunday closed Vilnius airport and NATO summoned at least one fighter jet in response to ‌a possible ⁠sighting ⁠of a drone in Lithuanian airspace, the National Crisis Management Centre said.

A jet was summoned from Siauliai ​in northern Lithuania, ⁠the centre said, ‌where Italian ​air ​force is ⁠currently based as part of the NATO ​Baltic Air Defence ​mission.

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The Vilnius marathon, which was taking place in the capital, was not interrupted, the ‌organizers told Reuters.

Countries along NATO's eastern ​edge have ​reported ⁠a series of drones straying into their airspace linked to the ​conflict stemming from Russia's 2022 full scale invasion of Ukraine.

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