What Happened
The head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr., said that the proliferation of drones was the “most concerning tactical development” in the Middle East and pose the largest threat to U.S. troops in the region “since the rise of the improvised explosive device [IED] in Iraq,” Task & Purpose reported Feb. 8.

Why It Matters
As drones become cheaper, easier to modify and more accessible to the general public, they will undoubtedly end up in the hands of militant groups and other hostile actors — posing a greater threat to security forces, government institutions, infrastructure, civilians, air traffic and other targets in the Middle East and elsewhere. Jihadist groups, in particular, will continue to conduct drone attacks, knowing that such incidents often garner more media coverage and notoriety. This trend will prompt governments and security forces to invest more in counter-drone technology.

Background
Gen. McKenzie shared his comments on drones during a speech to the Middle East Institute, where he also covered topics on U.S. interests in the Middle East including Iran, counterterrorism and regional competition with China and Russia. Militant groups have used drones to conduct attacks, surveillance and other operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Turkey and Yemen.