Kathmandu— Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt warned on Sunday that the nation faces a constant reality of hybrid warfare, including espionage, sabotage, and cyberattacks, following recent security incidents involving drones at a major airport and a military installation.

Rising Security Threats

The warning follows the discovery of a drone carrying explosives near a Ukrainian transport plane at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the incident as a "hybrid attack scenario" during an interview with the newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

Dobrindt emphasized that while the country is not currently at war, it is a frequent target of covert operations. "Espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks, or covert operations by foreign powers aimed at destabilizing Germany or inflicting direct harm are a constant reality," he said.

Drone Sightings Near Military Assets

The heightened security alert follows reports that two drones were spotted late Thursday night over a Bundeswehr military base in Mechernich, located in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia near the Belgian border.

A spokesperson for the German armed forces confirmed the drones were detected around 10 p.m. The Mechernich base is significant for its role in maintaining US Patriot air defense systems, which are utilized in the defense of Ukraine against Russian aerial strikes.

Diplomatic Tension and Research Initiatives

While German officials have not officially attributed the Leipzig airport incident to a specific nation, some lawmakers have suggested Russian involvement. The Russian Embassy in Berlin has dismissed the claims, calling the event a "fabricated provocation" and stating that accusations are being made "without the slightest evidence being presented."

In response to these evolving threats, the German government is increasing research into drone technology. A new drone security research center is scheduled to be established later this month at a German Aerospace Center (DLR) test airport in Saxony-Anhalt.

The establishment of the new research center in Saxony-Anhalt is expected to proceed later this August.

(With inputs from DW)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.