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French Plane Extends Black Sea Surveillance After Ship Attacks
· Confirmed
In Short: A French maritime patrol aircraft deployed to Romania to bolster surveillance after a series of deadly strikes on merchant ships in the Black Sea will extend its stay by several weeks, its commander said on Thursday, according to Arabnews.
A French maritime patrol aircraft deployed to Romania to bolster surveillance after a series of deadly strikes on merchant ships in the Black Sea will extend its stay by several weeks, its commander said on Thursday, according to Arabnews. The plane was able to detect the three sea drones that ultimately struck and sank the Greek-owned container vessel Contship Jet in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone on October 28, Arabnews reported.
At least nine cargo ships were hit near the coast of Romania and Bulgaria in October, with some 34 sailors reported dead or missing, Arabnews added. The aircraft’s commander, whose identity was not given for security reasons, said the Atlantique 2 presence will be maintained for a few weeks to ensure the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, Arabnews reported.
Arabnews noted that NATO said this week the alliance had committed to investing more than $40 billion in counter-drone capabilities in the next five years. The French aircraft, designed to detect submarines, warships, and small threats including sea drones and mines, was temporarily relocated to the Romanian Mihail Kogalniceanu air base on October 18 after NATO members Romania and Bulgaria asked for reinforcements.
According to Euromaidanpress, Adrian Mihălcioiu, the leader of Romania's Free Seafarers' Union, said the ship was attacked by Russian sea and aerial drones in waters Romanians consider safe. He called the attack 'a blatant violation of international law and maritime law,' adding that the drones hit the ships at about 3 a.m.
While Arabnews and Euromaidanpress provided details on the attacks in the Black Sea and the French aircraft's mission, NBC News and PBS focused on the Saudi defense capabilities and the broader implications of the attacks. Both sets of reports agree that the attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea have caused significant concern and prompted military responses.
What this adds
The sources have not established the exact number of drones involved in each attack or the full extent of the damage to the ships beyond the reported casualties.
What's confirmed
- “They’ve learned how to oversaturate the radars,” he said.
What's still developing
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for a moratorium on Black Sea attacks.