Defense Minister says drones were seen over army base in Belgium
(MENAFN) Belgium’s Defense Minister Theo Francken confirmed on Wednesday that multiple drones were spotted over a military base in Marche-en-Famenne on Saturday evening and again overnight, sparking concerns over national security.
"Our guard post in Marche-en-Famenne noticed multiple drones over crucial parts of the headquarters of our army brigade on Saturday evening during an extended period. It was not the work of amateurs, but of skilled drone pilots," Francken wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
He said the police and the General Intelligence and Security Service are investigating the “worrying incident” at the base, located about 113 kilometers (70 miles) southeast of Brussels.
"Flying drones over military quarters is absolutely prohibited. We must be able to take them out of the air," Francken emphasized.
Speaking to Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, he confirmed that "there were four or five drones at the time," stressing the strategic importance of the site, which houses the main army barracks and critical infrastructure.
This marks the third recent report of drone activity near Belgian military facilities, following previous sightings at the Elsenborn camp in the East Cantons. The origin of the drones remains unclear, and while speculation has pointed to Russia, Francken said this could not be confirmed.
"I can say that these are actors with malicious intent. This isn't some mischievous kid flying his drone over a barracks for fun. This was a clearly orchestrated operation against the heart of our army ... They were searching for crucial information about the critical infrastructure located within the military domain," he added.
Francken also called for defensive tools such as drone nets and anti-drone shotguns, noting that some existing capabilities are limited to air bases and primarily protect aircraft.
The incident comes amid a series of alleged drone airspace violations in Europe, heightening regional tensions. Russia has denied involvement in these occurrences.
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