Theguardian iconTheguardianSep 3, 2026 ~1 min source read

The wars in Ukraine and Iran are becoming dangerously enmeshed | Christopher S Chivvis

As the Trump administration refuses to end its war in Iran, it is steering into the storm, not out of it 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.

The wars in Ukraine and Iran are becoming dangerously enmeshed | Christopher S Chivvis

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As the Trump administration refuses to end its war in Iran, it is steering into the storm, not out of it 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.

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The useful part

As the Trump administration refuses to end its war in Iran, it is steering into the storm, not out of it 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.

How it works

  • 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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