UN report warns of ISIS, al-Qaeda coordination to use drones

An international report issued by a team of experts affiliated with the UN Security Council stated that there is increasing cooperation between ISIS mercenaries and al-Qaeda in the field of developing and using drones, amid the escalating spread of this technology in various conflict areas.

The report, which was read by Al Ain News, stated that they mainly depend on stolen or smuggled small arms and light weapons, and that these weapons are transferred in coordination between terrorist groups and organized criminal networks. Moreover, they also seek to acquire experience in making and operating drones, including armed drones, via specialized training programs and recruitment of experts.

The report pointed out that al-Qaeda in Yemen has reinforced its technical capabilities by moving from the use of ready-made aircrafts to designing special models such as Houthi aircrafts, amid the continued development of an internal program for the manufacture of drones, including planes equipped with 12.7 mm anti-gun used in babin and Shabwa attacks.

The report also revealed the use of small drones in West Africa, where the "Massena Liberation Movement" of Nasrat al-Islam and Muslims group obtained monitoring and dumping manual explosives, in addition to strengthening its intelligence capabilities via advanced cameras and the global positioning system.

Experts emphasized that these aircrafts improved the tactical operations of terrorist organizations, relying on ambushes and reducing direct attacks on the military forces.

The expert in International Terrorism Affairs, Mounir Adeeb, pointed out that cooperation between the two organizations, despite the competition between them, is based on the unity of goals and the common enemy, with agreement on the areas of influence and the exchange of military experiences and technologies. He made clear that there are continuous moves of individuals and experiences between the two organizations, which enhances the operational capacity of both parties in public and secret.

The report warned that "the use of drones equipped with cameras that keep up with" poses the greatest threat " for their ability to launch suicide attacks, which may affect the dynamics of the conflict in favor of terrorist groups and increase the complexity of internationally combating terrorism efforts." 

J.J