The UK will send defence experts and equipment to Belgium to help it respond to drone sightings over military bases and airports, the head of the armed fores said on Sunday. Moscow has denied any connection to the incidents as European defence leaders have said the drones could be a form of Russian "hybrid warfare".
Britain is sending experts and equipment toBelgiumto help it combatdisruptive drone sightings, which have temporarily closed airports, the head of the Britishmilitarysaid on Sunday.
Drones have been spotted over airports and military bases in Belgium in the last week, having caused major disruption acrossEuropein recent months.
Richard Knighton, head of Britain's armed forces, told the BBC that his Belgian counterpart had asked for assistance and that equipment and personnel were on the way.
"The defence secretary and I agreed at the end of last week that we would deploy our people and our equipment to Belgium to help them," he said, without giving details of what sort of equipment would be sent or how many personnel.
Read moreBrussels Airport resumes operations after drone scare disrupts flights
Knighton said it was not known yet who was behind the drone sightings, but notedRussiahas been involved in a pattern of "hybrid warfare" in recent years.
Russia has denied any connection with the incidents.
Drones spotted flying over airports serving the capital, Brussels, and Liege, in the country's east, forced the diversion of many incoming planes and the grounding of some due to depart on Tuesday.
Drone sightings also forced the temporary closures of airports in several countries includingSwedenon Thursday.
The German defence minister suggested a link on Friday between recent drone incidents in Belgium and discussions over the use of frozen Russian assets, held by Belgian financial institution Euroclear, to fund a large loan toUkraine.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)
Originally published on France24
