French Navy opens fire on drones over nuclear submarine base

Le Monde reported the information.

According to the publication, five drones were spotted Thursday evening over the Île-Longue submarine base in Brittany, western France.

This is a strategic military facility where ballistic missile submarines are stationed. A no-fly zone for drones is in effect in this area.

A counter-drone system was deployed along with search operations. Military personnel responsible for guarding the base fired several shots at the drones. It is unknown whether any of them were shot down.

The Île-Longue base provides technical maintenance for France's four nuclear submarines, at least one of which is constantly at sea to maintain nuclear deterrence.

According to French media reports, drones had already been spotted in the area last month, though not directly over the base.

This incident occurred following a series of recent drone incursions into NATO airspace, with unmanned aerial vehicles flying around critical military installations and civilian infrastructure across Europe in recent months, including in Belgium, Germany, Denmark, and Norway.

• Four unidentified military-grade drones violated a no-fly zone near Dublin Airport late Monday night, targeting the exact flight path and arrival time of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's plane in what Irish security officials are calling a potential hybrid warfare attack.