An American early-warning radar aircraft based at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany, scrambled again Wednesday evening to monitor the airspace over the alliance's eastern flank. The flight took place in close proximity to the Polish-Ukrainian border during the latest wave of Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, escalating tensions in the region.

Operation Eastern Sentry, initiated by NATO in response to recent drone intrusions into Polish airspace, involves regular reconnaissance missions to monitor potential threats. These flights allow for the tracking of Russian aircraft, missiles, and drones at ranges of up to 400 kilometers without entering the conflict zone.