Romanian fighter jets shoot down 2 drones over Black Sea

BREAKING: Romanian Air Force F-16s shoot down two drones over the country's Black Sea territorial waters moments after they entered Romanian airspace, days after two chemical tankers were hit by drones near Romania's coast.

Romanian F-16s have shot down two drones over the Black Sea tonight.

The Defense Ministry says the first drone crossed into Romanian airspace at 17:59 local time and was down within two minutes. The second followed, and it lasted five. Both were destroyed about 20 kilometers southeast of Sulina, right where the Danube meets the sea. Romania has not yet said whose drones they were, though this is a country that borders Ukraine and has been reporting Russian incursions since 2022.

And the timing matters. Just two days ago, two chemical tankers were hit by drones off this same coast, anchored near the Sulina Canal, a key export route for Ukraine. Seven crew members are still missing.

Foreign Minister Oana Toiu says NATO's North Atlantic Council will take this up on Tuesday. Romania is a NATO member, and tonight a NATO air force opened fire over its own territorial waters. That is where this story stands.

This is Angel Manalo, reporting for HIT.