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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Comment
Christopher S Chivvis

The wars in Ukraine and Iran are becoming dangerously enmeshed

john ratcliffe with trump
‘Ratcliffe’s trip was necessary, especially in light of Russia’s reckless grey-zone operations in Europe. But it will not be enough.’ Photograph: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images

Russia hasn’t yet killed large numbers of Europeans outside Ukraine, but it’s getting closer. The night of 4-5 August, an airport bus driver discovered an armed drone lying near the tarmac of the Leipzig-Halle airport, which is a central hub of Europe’s logistical support to Ukraine’s war effort. A cargo jet, meanwhile, may have struck a second drone shortly after takeoff, forcing an abrupt landing, and investigators found a third drone laden with military explosives nearby.

In 2024, incendiary devices hidden in parcels ignited in DHL cargo at the same airport. Had these detonated in the air, a major air catastrophe and large-scale civilian casualties would have ensued, probably resulting in a broader war.

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