Report: CIA warned of possible Mediterranean drone operation

A report citing anonymous sources familiar with the intelligence says the CIA warned European governments of a possible Russian drone operation targeting Spain, France or Italy, using drones launched from merchant vessels in the Mediterranean. The warning has not been publicly confirmed by the CIA or the three governments, and the reported assessment does not establish that an attack is imminent or identify specific targets. The account, attributed to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, describes a scenario involving Russian Gerbera drones concealed in shipping containers aboard civilian vessels. The alert was reportedly shared with several European governments, including those of Spain, France and Italy. The reporting traces the warning to sources familiar with the intelligence and a source linked to Lithuania’s defense establishment; the underlying assessment has not been made public. Gerbera drones are described in the reports as small aircraft about two metres long, with a wingspan of roughly 2.5 metres and a reported maximum range of up to 600 kilometres.