The CIA has shared intelligence with several European governments about a possible Russian drone operation targeting Spain, France or Italy, with Gerbera drones reportedly concealed on merchant vessels and launched from the Mediterranean. The warning points to ports, airports and other coastal infrastructure as potential targets, raising concern over disruption rather than large-scale destruction.
The scenario described by El Mundo and picked up by other outlets depicts a hybrid operation designed to exploit commercial shipping lanes and avoid direct attribution. The Gerbera is a small Russian-made drone with a range of about 600 km and a limited payload, making it suited to fires, temporary shutdowns and damage to exposed equipment rather than major strikes.
The report has not been publicly confirmed by the CIA or the governments named, and it remains framed as an intelligence warning rather than a verified attack plan. Even so, the alleged tactic would test airport and port security across the southern flank of NATO, where operations depend heavily on exposed coastal infrastructure and uninterrupted logistics.