Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleU.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) officers conduct a demonstration of their rapid response capabilities during a joint, combined exercise at the border (AFP/Getty)The U.S. military used a high-energy laser system to shoot down three Mexican drug cartel drones in the Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Military officials stated the cartel drones posed a physical threat to U.S. military and Customs and Border Protection personnel by facilitating human smuggling and conducting surveillance. Authorities have not disclosed whether the strikes occurred over U.S. or Mexican territory, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum previously warned against unilateral military actions on Mexican soil. The military action comes amid President Donald Trump's administration's efforts to fulfill campaign promises by cracking down on immigration and drug cartels at the southern border. U.S. security officials remain increasingly concerned as cartels adapt commercial drones for surveillance, drug smuggling, and dropping explosives. In fullUS unleashes military laser as cartel drones pose ‘physical threat’ at southern borderMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Military laser takes down Mexican cartel drones in dramatic border confrontation
Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleU.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) officers conduct a demonstration of their rapid response capabilities during a joint, combined exercise at the border (AFP/Getty)The U.S. military used a high-energy laser system to shoot down three Mexican drug cartel drones in the Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Military officials stated the cartel drones posed a physical threat to U.S. military and Customs and Border Protection personnel by facilitating human smuggling and conducting surveillance. Authorities have not disclosed whether the strikes occurred over U.S. or Mexican territory, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum previously warned against unilateral military actions on Mexican soil. The military action comes amid President Donald Trump's administration's efforts to fulfill campaign promises by cracking down on immigration and drug cartels at the southern border. U.S. security officials remain increasingly concerned as cartels adapt commercial drones for surveillance, drug smuggling, and dropping explosives. In fullUS unleashes military laser as cartel drones pose ‘physical threat’ at southern borderMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
