A group of Republican and Democratic representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives has introduced a bill to halt the activities of Iranian drones. The bill outlines penalties for any form of collaboration with Iran regarding drone activities. It clarifies that U.S. sanctions on Iran's conventional weapons program under the CAATSA law also encompass the supply, sale, or transfer of unmanned aerial vehicles to or from Iran.
It emphasizes the necessity of preventing Tehran and its allied groups from acquiring "drones" that could be used in attacks against the United States or its partners. The Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Gregory Meeks, stated in a statement today that "the presence of deadly drones in the hands of Iran, which is regarded as the largest source of terrorism in the world, threatens not only regional peace but also the security of the United States." He asserted that "support for the Iranian drone program will not be tolerated."
Republican Congressman Michael McCaul remarked that the peoples of the Middle East cannot live in freedom, stability, and prosperity "under the onslaught of Iranian drones." He added that America will use "all available means" to confront the Iranian drone program.
He also pointed out that regardless of which party uses drones in certain attacks occurring in the region, it is unacceptable. He said, "Whether these attacks are carried out by Iran, the Houthis, Tehran-backed militias, or any other sponsored entities, these attacks are intolerable." This move coincides with the announcement by the Coalition Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen, which revealed early today the destruction of a drone after its launch from Sanaa Airport.
The coalition previously disclosed that the Yemeni airport had been converted into a military base for launching drones and missiles. It is worth noting that several previous reports have confirmed Iran's support for militias in the region, whether in Iraq or Yemen, with missiles and explosive drones. The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Iran's drone program on October 29, 2021, stating on its website that the sanctions targeted four individuals and two entities due to links to the Revolutionary Guard. Additionally, it confirmed that the Revolutionary Guard provided Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Ethiopia with drones used to attack U.S. forces and international shipping in the region.
