site.btaDefence Minister Says No Increase in Migrants Expected after Hamas Terrorist Attacks against Israel

Bulgarian Defence Minister Todor Tagarev said the migrant wave from the region is not expected to increase soon in the wake of the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel and the operation for which Israel is making preparations. The main task now falls on the services and the Foreign Ministry, which are following the situation, he added.

Tagarev said that the Armed Forces' presence at the Bulgarian border had been enhanced to a small degree and that there was no threat for the time being.

"We are ready to provide more forces and assets to protect the border if the risk heightens, but this is not expected in the coming weeks," the Defence Minister said.

Regarding President Vladimir Putin's announcement that Russian fighter jets will conduct patrols over the Black Sea, Tagarev said this was yet another provocative message from the Kremlin, but there is no direct threat. In the last few years, Russian aircraft have flown regularly in that airspace, triggering NATO's air defence system, and things have not changed significantly now.