Islamic State (IS) Weaponized Drone
Shown Conducting 19 Bombings
in New Video

On 24 Jan. 2017, Islamic State (IS) Wilayat Ninewa released a video showing 19 IS weaponized drone bombings of security forces personnel and vehicles. The hand-launched drone has a 5-6 foot wingspan and is shown carrying two bombs. The first drone attack shown is on a group of soldiers standing on the street and timed to occur just before a VBIED attack on two vehicles about a block away. Variations of the bomb design can be seen in the attacks.

The video also shows footage of the drone flying that was filmed by another drone above it. Of the 19 drone bombings shown, 47% targeted a grouping of personnel and vehicles, 32% targeted a vehicle and 21% targeted a group of personnel. The bombing accuracy was good enough to score direct hits on the vehicles which ranged from Humvees to a tank. The majority of the attacks took place on roads at 74% followed by parking lots at 16% and unimproved land at 11%. All of the targets were stationery when attacked.

This video underscores the threat posed by weaponized drones and clearly illustrates it is an immediate threat. Furthermore, the threat posed by IS usage of drones in Iraq is not limited to there and presents a significant threat over a broad range of targets classes around the world that while traditionally having strong perimeter security measures often have little to no defensive measures in place to deal with a drone attack. Everything from military bases, government facilities, tourist sites, sports arenas and large outdoor events to name a few are at risk.

The US drone program has eliminated significant numbers of senior leadership and key personnel in IS, al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. The impact of this on the groups has been the subject of countless video releases and statements. Now that the day when terrorists have use of their own weaponized drones has arrived, there will likely be a strong desire by some operational planners to hit back against the US and its allies in a similar fashion.

Just as the use of drones by terrorist groups for filming, surveillance and battlefield coordination has grown exponentially since 2014, IntelCenter expects the use of weaponized drones to also rapidly evolve in terms of the drones capabilities, the munitions utilized and their tactics, techniques and procedures.

The full video showing the drone attacks can be viewed in the IntelCenter Database (ICD) at Video ID# 8682. Sign up for a free 10-day trial of the ICD and see additional details by clicking here.