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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Josh Funk and Konstantin Toropin

Hegseth-led military used high-energy laser to shoot down CBP drone over Texas — again — forcing airspace shutdown

A US military laser system shot down a drone near the US-Mexico border on Thursday, only for it to emerge that the aircraft belonged to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), prompting a swift closure of airspace and renewed political criticism.

The incident marks the second time in two weeks that a laser has been deployed in the area by the Department of Defense, led by Secretary Pete Hegseth.

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