A senior U.S. official confirmed on Wednesday that U.S. armed forces intervened to counter a group of drones belonging to Mexican drug cartels, after they were detected violating U.S. airspace in the southern state of Texas.
The official, who preferred not to reveal his identity due to the sensitivity of the security information, explained that these drones crossed the border from Mexico, prompting an immediate response from the US military, which took "technical and military measures" to disable these drones and neutralize their threat, noting that the incident caused a temporary state of security alert.
El Paso airport closed and airspace secured
This airspace intrusion coincided with the sudden closure of El Paso International Airport in Texas, where air traffic was briefly suspended as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of civilian aircraft and passengers. Airport operations returned to normal after authorities confirmed the threat had passed and the airspace was secured.
Evolution of cartel tactics: drone warfare
This incident highlights a dangerous evolution in the tactics of organized crime groups and Mexican cartels. In recent years, these groups have increasingly turned to modern technology, no longer relying solely on traditional smuggling and surveillance methods. Modified commercial drones are among the most prominent tools these groups employ for a variety of purposes, ranging from monitoring the movements of U.S. border patrol agents and transporting small shipments of drugs to using them as offensive weapons against rival gangs within Mexico.
National security and border security challenges
The infiltration of U.S. airspace by criminal drones poses a new challenge to U.S. national security that goes beyond drug enforcement. Security experts indicate that the ability of these gangs to operate aircraft deep within U.S. territory necessitates a comprehensive review of low-altitude air defense and counter-drone (C-UAS) systems along the southern border.
Washington views this escalation with great concern, as the use of airspace by non-state actors is a threat to state sovereignty and the safety of civil aviation, which may prompt the US administration to strengthen its military-technical presence on the border and deploy more advanced jamming and monitoring equipment to prevent the recurrence of such violations in the future.
