The Syrian regime is stepping up its use of suicide drones
Al Jazeera
The Syrian government calls upon high-precision, low-cost drones to target rebel and civilian personnel and infrastructure.
Idlib, Syria – Syrian government forces have stepped up their use of FPV (first-person view) suicide drones of late, using them to hit military sites belonging to opposition forces as well as civilian areas in villages and towns along the front lines.
The White Helmets, formally known as the Syrian Civil Defence, says there were 13 drone attacks this year up to February 22, which injured seven people, including two children.
FPV drones are classified as loitering munitions for their ability to hover near a target until it is time to strike. They are relatively cheap to make and offer a high degree of accuracy in their hits.
Munir Mustafa, deputy director of the White Helmets, said the use of FPV drones by the Syrian forces, as well as Russian and Iranian allies, against civilians is a dangerous escalation, threatening lives and destroying livelihoods.
“These attacks are not limited to direct loss of life and property damage, but also extend to targeting agricultural areas and the Qarqur Dam area, which threatens the livelihoods of many many families,” he said.
