France to send Rafale jets to patrol NATO’s eastern flank after drone incident in Poland

France will deploy three Rafale fighter jets to patrol NATO’s eastern flank following the incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace, the defence ministry said.

 Poland reported that 19 Russian drones entered its airspace on Sept. 10, with only four intercepted. Wreckage of Geran-type drones and an unidentified missile was later found.

NATO invoked Article 4 consultations at Warsaw’s request, calling the incident an “unprecedented violation.”

While Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described it as an “invasion,” NATO stressed it was not a direct attack on the alliance. Several allies, including the Netherlands, already scrambled jets to reinforce Polish air defences.