Evidence

Multiple outlets (Reuters-adjacent wire coverage via Defense News, Euronews, Times of Israel, Novaya Gazeta Europe, Meduza, TVP World, LIGA.net, DroneXL, Tovima, IBTimes UK) confirm that Spanish daily El Mundo, citing anonymous Lithuanian defense-ministry-linked and diplomatic sources, reported on Sept. 23-24, 2026 that the CIA had shared a warning with European governments about a possible Russian operation to launch small 'Gerbera' drones from merchant ships toward Spain, France or Italy, tied to CIA Director John Ratcliffe's August 25 Moscow visit. However, the claim was quickly and explicitly disputed by named officials: Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto called the alarm 'completely unsubstantiated' on X, and French President Emmanuel Macron said the CIA never warned France of such a plan (per DroneXL and Meduza). Spain has not publicly confirmed or denied. Defense News explicitly notes 'The El Mundo report has not been independently corroborated.' No CIA statement confirming the report was found, and no dedicated investigation/verdict from Reuters Fact Check, AFP Fact Check, Bellingcat, or EUvsDisinfo specifically addressing this claim turned up in searches; coverage so far is straight news reporting and follow-up reporting on the denials, not forensic fact-checking.