Review of Attacks on UAVs in Iraq, Afghanistan

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are among the primary targets of the mujahideen, since these devices are used to monitor their activities, and thus limit their ability to move and operate in the field. According to their communiqués, the mujahideen have downed at least 19 UAVs in Iraq and Afghanistan in the last two years (four in Afghanistan and 15 in Iraq). Among the organizations claiming to have shot down UAVs are the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Taliban and Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), as well as Ansar Al-Islam, the Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI), Hamas-Iraq, and the Shi'ite organization Jaysh Al-Mahdi. ...