U.S. Uses Drones Modeled On Iran's Shahed Drones Against Tehran

#Gravitas In a rare and major shift in its military strategy, the United States has deployed low-cost kamikaze drones modeled on Iran’s Shahed-136 to strike targets in Tehran. The development marks the first known instance of Washington using suicide attack drones of this type in direct combat operations against Iran. The Shahed-136, widely used by Iranian forces and allied groups in regional conflicts, is known for its long-range, loitering strike capability and relatively low production cost. Analysts say the U.S. adaptation signals a tactical pivot toward cost-effective, swarm-capable unmanned systems designed to overwhelm air defenses and conduct precision strikes.