U.S. Army Destroys Cartel Drones Over El Paso Airspace

The U.S. military, operating from Fort Bliss near El Paso, Texas, took action to shoot down several drones operated by Mexican drug cartels that had breached U.S. airspace overnight, prompting a brief but disruptive temporary flight restriction (TFR) over El Paso International Airport and surrounding areas issued by the FAA.

According to statements from the Trump administration, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and White House officials, the Department of War (formerly Defense) employed electronic warfare measures—likely jamming or other non-kinetic counter-drone technologies—to neutralize the incursion, which was described as a security threat potentially linked to cartel surveillance or smuggling activities along the border.

The incident led to conflicting initial reports, with some sources attributing the airspace closure to poor coordination between the Pentagon and FAA over military counter-drone testing at nearby Biggs Army Airfield, while others, including local officials like Rep. Veronica Escobar, expressed skepticism about the cartel drone narrative; however, the FAA quickly lifted the restrictions after determining no ongoing threat to commercial aviation, allowing flights to resume normally. This event highlights escalating concerns over cartel use of drones crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and the military’s expanding role in border security operations.