France and Italy Deny CIA Warnings of Russian Drone Attacks

French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto have denied reports that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency warned them of planned Russian drone strikes against Southern Europe. The denials follow a report by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, which claimed the CIA alerted Spain, France, and Italy to a plot involving Gerbera drones launched from shipping containers on merchant vessels in the Mediterranean Sea.

The alleged operation would target airports, factories, or military installations to cause economic instability and disrupt civilian aviation. The reports linked the warning to an August visit to Moscow by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who reportedly cautioned Russian counterparts against attacking NATO members. This threat follows a pattern of Russian hybrid warfare, including a drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany on August 4 and incursions in Poland and the Baltic states.

While Macron stated that the CIA did not inform French intelligence of such an attack, he acknowledged that a Russian strike against Europe is "plausible" and described a potential mobilization of 300,000 Russian personnel as a "credible scenario." Crosetto dismissed the reports as unconfirmed, stating that the alarm "served no one" and that no one needs "more fuel on the fire." The European Commission also stated it was unaware of a specific alert, and the Federal Government of Russia has denied any intention to target NATO nations.