Berlin, August 8, 2026 (Nosheen):Two drones were spotted over a military base in western Germany late Thursday, just two days after an explosive-laden drone was discovered near a runway at Leipzig/Halle Airport in the eastern part of the country, authorities said Saturday.A spokesperson for Germany’s armed forces said the drones were sighted at around 10 p.m. on Thursday at the military base in Mechernich, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, about 35 kilometres from the Belgian border.Military police were deployed after the sighting was confirmed, and the matter was subsequently handed over to police in the nearby town of Euskirchen. Police are investigating the incident, the spokesperson said, without providing further details.
German media reported that the Bundeswehr facility in Mechernich contains a high-security underground storage facility for equipment and spare parts used for military hardware. The site is also reportedly used by personnel responsible for maintaining US Patriot air defence systems.Meanwhile, the drone discovered late Tuesday at Leipzig/Halle Airport, a civilian freight facility and NATO logistics hub, was reportedly found close to several Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft, according to German media reports.
The incidents have renewed concerns over drones penetrating NATO airspace and intensified debate over whether key members of the military alliance, including Germany, are adequately prepared to respond to emerging security threats.German government officials have not publicly blamed any foreign country for the incidents. However, some lawmakers have accused Russia, which has been at war with Ukraine since its invasion in 2022.The Russian Embassy in Berlin rejected the allegations on Friday, describing the Leipzig incident as a “fabricated provocation” and saying it was another example of accusations against Russia being made without evidence.