The use of drones by Al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch for terrorist operations since May has raised concerns about the organization’s financial and logistical capabilities in acquiring such drones. This is particularly important considering the trend of terrorist organizations leveraging drones to their advantage. For instance, ISIS significantly increased its use of drones in terrorist operations in Iraq and Syria before its territorial control diminished and its financial resources declined. These organizations have been able to effectively deploy drones for advanced reconnaissance of locations, targets, and military forces. Moreover, they have utilized drones to capture propaganda imagery of their attacks, often modifying them with foreign components to carry out precise strikes. Additionally, these drones have been used for suicide missions.

Airstrikes against terrorist organizations have proven to be a significant advantage in confrontations between these organizations, local military forces in affected countries, and foreign forces engaged in military operations like the United States-led international coalition against ISIS. As a result, terrorist organizations have sought to utilize unmanned aerial drones, especially as their usage expands for both military and non-military purposes worldwide.

In recent years, various terrorist organizations and armed militias, including the Houthis, Hezbollah, and militias in Iraq, have acquired drones for both battles and terrorist operations. The possession of these drones by such organizations is often linked to their relationships with Iran. However, our focus will be on jihadist terrorist organizations, particularly Al-Qaeda and ISIS, along with their different branches, as they have extensively utilized this type of aircraft.

A noteworthy example of these efforts is the announcement made by Al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch, known as “Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula,” regarding their use of drones in terrorist operations within Yemen. They claimed responsibility for two operations in June, specifically targeting military forces in the Shabwah Governorate. Prior to these incidents, the organization had already declared its initial drone operations in Shabwah, with most of these activities occurring in May.

Key Features

Despite the varied use of drones by terrorist organizations, they share several common characteristics, particularly those affiliated with the jihadist project. The main features include:

1. Unarmed commercial drones are commonly deployed by terrorist organizations, acquired through purchases facilitated by intermediaries and smuggled into areas under their control. These organizations often engage with cross-border smuggling networks, forming collaborations.

However, it is noteworthy that drones equipped with combat capabilities for executing guided missile strikes have not been observed in the battles or operations conducted by organizations such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Conversely, organizations associated with Iran utilize drones possessing greater capabilities.

In November 2022, the U.S. Treasury Department designated a network on the terrorism list for providing financial, technical, and logistical support to ISIS’s branch in Mozambique. Western estimates suggest that the network may have supplied various logistical necessities, including motorcycles, phones, and drones. This is particularly significant considering that ISIS’s Mozambique branch, known as “Wilayat Mozambique,” has repeatedly announced the utilization of drones for military position reconnaissance.

2. Limited reliance on drones: The operational activities of terrorist organizations have revealed their limited dependence on drones, despite possessing them without publicly disclosing their types or combat capabilities. This limited reliance has become more apparent over the past two years. The primary reason for this is that the drones they possess are unarmed commercial drones lacking high maneuverability and the ability to fly at high altitudes.

The highest levels of drone reliance were observed during ISIS’s expansion attempts in Iraq and Syria, regardless of the specific methods employed. However, the reliance on drones by terrorist organizations has since declined, although they remain prominent in several African countries, particularly with ISIS branches in Mozambique and Nigeria.

It is worth noting that Al-Qaeda initially lagged behind ISIS in terms of drone reliance. The use of drones by Al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch in terrorist operations became evident for the first time in the previous year, while the organization’s Sahel region branch utilized drones to film propaganda videos.

Overall, although terrorist organizations strive to acquire drones, international efforts have been undertaken to impede their procurement. This deprives these organizations of a relative advantage, particularly in environments where local forces encounter challenges in implementing effective counterterrorism strategies.

3. Developing local models and modifying drones: Since terrorist organizations typically utilize unarmed commercial drones, some groups have resorted to modifying these drones to arm them for use in their operations. This modification serves as a surprising element during engagements on the battlefield and during attacks.

ISIS, for instance, has successfully modified drones by equipping them with explosives for launching attacks on fortified positions. An example of this was observed in their assault on the Syrian Democratic Forces in Raqqa in 2017, following the recapture of Tabqa Airbase. The organization has executed numerous operations with the assistance of these modified drones.

The Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group has also engaged in similar practices. Notably, they utilized locally manufactured drones in an attack on a Russian base. These drones were constructed using small engines, wooden panels, and small missiles.

4. Financial capacity for drone acquisition: The affordability of drones makes them an attractive option for terrorist organizations, driving their inclination towards purchasing these unmanned aircraft. The simplicity and ease of operation, along with the minimal training required for operatives to utilize them, add to the allure of drones for such organizations. Consequently, there has been a notable increase in the acquisition of drones by these groups.

In Syria, media reports indicate that the price of small Phantom models used for reconnaissance purposes reached $2,300 per unit in 2016. These drones were readily available through local agents, making them accessible to various active terrorist organizations operating in Syria.

Deployment in Multiple Areas

Despite the relative advantage provided by drones to terrorist organizations, there are several functions that these aircraft can serve to support the operational activities of such organizations, considering the aforementioned general characteristics. The most prominent functions include:

1. Advanced reconnaissance of targets and military forces: The drones employed by terrorist organizations offer advanced capabilities that enable effective reconnaissance operations for identifying their intended targets. These drones are equipped with cameras, which play a crucial role in these operations.

By utilizing drones for reconnaissance, terrorist organizations can mitigate the potential risks associated with conventional monitoring methods conducted by personnel, which may be susceptible to exposure. Moreover, these drones provide precise and detailed monitoring of targets through imaging and recording, allowing for thorough analysis and strategic planning.

One notable advantage of using drones for target surveillance is their ability to capture high-angle views, providing detailed information on movements, troop numbers, and the types and configurations of weapons. This proves particularly advantageous when planning to target or infiltrate heavily fortified sites or military headquarters, as it facilitates determining the number of individuals involved in the terrorist operation and the scale of weaponry employed.

Furthermore, these aircraft enable the monitoring of military force movements, aiding in operations aimed at confronting or setting up ambushes against them.

2. Execution of Aerial Bombing Operations: Upon gaining control over extensive territories in Iraq and Syria, ISIS successfully attracted foreign individuals possessing diverse capabilities and expertise across various fields. This enabled the organization to engage in drone modification and utilize them for bombing operations against selected targets.

According to Western estimates, Junaid Hussain, a British jihadist who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2015, played a significant role in activating ISIS’s drone program after joining the organization from Britain. Hussain was among the most sought-after individuals by the United States and the international coalition due to his leadership role in an ISIS-affiliated group involved in cyber infiltration.

Within this context, ISIS sought to recruit foreign individuals with software expertise to modify drones and convert them into armed platforms capable of carrying out airstrikes, particularly targeting locations that were physically challenging for the organization’s fighters to access.

3. Use of Drones in Suicide Operations: Certain organizations, notably ISIS in Iraq and Syria, have employed drones in suicide operations to target fortified locations. This approach involves loading the drones with explosive materials, thereby reducing the depletion of human resources within the organization.

Drones can also be utilized strategically by executing a suicide mission on specific targets, diverting the attention of counterterrorism forces, before proceeding with a separate suicide operation involving a human operative. It is important to note that the limited size of the drone restricts its capacity to carry substantial quantities of explosives.

4. Achieving Propaganda Objectives to Enhance Influence: Terrorist organizations strategically employ drones for propaganda purposes, utilizing them to capture footage of attacks and battles against military forces. ISIS, in particular, gained prominence through numerous releases following its territorial control over areas in Syria and Iraq in 2014 and subsequent years. They effectively used drones to film their operatives during terrorist operations and assaults. The involvement of foreign elements who joined the organization from outside the Arab region contributed to this tactic.

According to Western estimates, ISIS utilized drones in promotional media releases for its branches in West and Central Africa between January and April 2022.

Restricting Access

Lastly, drones confer a relative advantage to terrorist organizations during their operational activities, considering the varying degrees of utilization in their favor and the security threats they pose in different environments. This is particularly noteworthy due to the affordability of drones, the vertical takeoff capabilities of certain models, and the consequent absence of the need for launch platforms that could be detected by counterterrorism forces.

Nevertheless, the use of such drones presents challenges. Some organizations, notably ISIS, face declining financial resources, and international entities have implemented stricter measures to limit the access of terrorist organizations to drones. Efforts are also being made to target smuggling networks that facilitate the provision of drones to these organizations. Furthermore, these groups currently lack the capability to acquire attack drones similar to those possessed by Iran-affiliated groups, let alone the ability to manufacture armed drones themselves.