Brussels airport temporarily halted operations due to drone sighting

Brussels: Operations at Belgium's Brussels Airport were temporarily halted on Thursday due to a drone sighting, a spokesperson for air traffic control Skeyes said on Thursday, without specifying how many drones had been seen.

Local media reported drones had been sighted in other parts of the country as well, among others at a military base.

The Belgian government had called an emergency meeting of key government ministers and security chiefs earlier on Thursday morning after drone sightings forced closures of airports and a military air base on Tuesday evening in what the defence minister called a coordinated attack.

Germany has said the Bundeswehr will provide Belgium with short-notice support in counter–drone capabilities.

Drones have caused major disruptions across Europe in recent months, forcing temporary closures of airports in several countries. Some officials have blamed the incidents on "hybrid warfare" by Russia. Moscow has denied any connection with the incidents.