US military uses laser to shoot down 3 Mexican cartel drones near border

The US military deployed a laser system in southern Texas to intercept three Mexican drug cartel drones this week. The North American Aerospace Defense Command and US Northern Command confirmed the operation occurred late Tuesday and early Wednesday.

The drones were deemed a "physical threat" to US military and Customs and Border Protection personnel. Major General Curtis Taylor, commander of Joint Task Force–Southern Border, stated that cartel networks are increasingly using unmanned aircraft systems for human smuggling and surveillance of personnel and law enforcement partners.

The specific laser model was not disclosed, but the announcement comes as the US administration intensifies efforts to curb immigration and cartel activities. The military did not specify the exact location of the strikes, leaving ambiguity as to whether they occurred over US or Mexican territory. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has previously stated that any unilateral US action on Mexican soil would violate national sovereignty.

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Cartel networks are increasingly employing unmanned aircraft systems to facilitate illicit human-smuggling and actively spy on our personnel and law enforcement partners.