RIGA, May 7 (LETA) - NATO fighter jets that were scrambled overnight in response to drone incidents in eastern Latvia have returned to their bases, the National Armed Forces (NAF) informed LETA.

NATO fighter jets arrived in eastern Latvia last night to conduct patrols and identify possible targets in connection with a possible threat in Latvian airspace. The aircraft have now returned to their military bases, the NAF said.

Information available to LETA does not indicate that the two drones that crashed in Latgale were shot down by the army.

As LETA reported, several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, flew into Latvian airspace from Russia in the early hours of Thursday, and at least one of them crashed in Rezekne, damaging an oil storage facility.

At the request of the National Armed Forces (NAF), a cell broadcast notification was sent out by the State Fire and Rescue Service to residents of the municipalities of Ludza, Balvi, and Rezekne.

Even after sunrise, drones could be seen and heard in the air over Rezekne, eyewitnesses reported. Residents also reported noises similar to fighter jets.

Defense Minister Andris Spruds (Progressives) said in an interview with Latvian Television that the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF), together with NATO allies, were exercising maximum control over Latvian airspace. NATO fighter jets were also in the air, the minister added.

The NAF notes that while Russian aggression in Ukraine is ongoing, there is a risk of recurrence of incidents of foreign drones entering or approaching Latvian airspace.