Belgium Suspects Russia in “Hybrid Attack” After Drones Shut Down Airports

Belgium’s National Security Council (NSC) held an emergency meeting on Thursday, November 6, 2025, after an unprecedented and coordinated swarm of drones forced the shutdown of the nation’s major airports and buzzed sensitive military bases. While the Belgian government has not made a formal public accusation, senior security sources told the Belga news agency they have “little doubt” a state actor, “very probably Russia,” is behind the incidents.
The chaos began on Tuesday evening, November 4. Unidentified drones were spotted over Brussels Zaventem Airport (BRU), the country’s busiest hub, forcing a total halt to all arrivals and departures. Shortly after, drones were also reported over Liège Airport (LGG), a major European cargo hub, and Antwerp, forcing them to shut down as well. The disruption led to dozens of cancellations and stranded hundreds of passengers.
This coordinated attack on civilian infrastructure followed a series of alarming incursions over military sites. For three consecutive nights, from October 31 to November 2, drones were spotted over the Kleine-Brogel air base. This base is home to Belgium’s F-16 fleet and is widely believed to store U.S. tactical nuclear weapons as part of NATO’s nuclear sharing agreement.
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken stated bluntly that the incursions were “not the work of amateurs” and described them as a “spy operation” and “destabilization.” He noted the drones were large, flew in formation, and appeared to be testing military frequencies.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Interior Minister Bernard Quintin have publicly labeled the events a form of “hybrid warfare” meant to sow panic and test the nation’s defenses. The NSC meeting was called to coordinate a national response, including strengthening air security and authorizing the military to shoot down unauthorized drones.
The incidents in Belgium, which hosts the headquarters of both NATO and the European Union, are not isolated. They are part of a surge of similar airspace violations across Europe in recent months, with drones shutting down airports and probing military sites in Germany, Denmark, and Lithuania, in what many European leaders see as a clear pattern of Russian hybrid attacks.