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Title: February 13, 2026

GRAY ZONE BRIEF 13 FEBRUARY 2026
 
OOPS! NOT CARTEL DRONES
 
**The laser weapon deployed to target suspected drones in El Paso struck party balloons instead -**
 
The objects that prompted Customs and Border Protection to use a classified Pentagon laser system near Fort Bliss, subsequently causing the FAA to temporarily close airspace within an 11 mile radius of El Paso International Airport, were later assessed as likely party balloons, not suspected cartel drones. The incident disrupted medical and commercial flights and exposed coordination gaps among federal agencies. Sources say that miscommunication between the Pentagon, FAA and the DHS sparked the episode and led lawmakers including Tammy Duckworth, Ted Cruz, and Roger Wicker to seek briefings. The laser system, approved by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, raises significant aviation safety concerns. Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has questioned claims that there were Mexican drones around the border area, pledging an investigation.
 
**Laser weapon that shut down El Paso's skies was LOCUST system, sources confirm **-
 
The counter-drone laser weapon that prompted the El Paso airspace shutdown on Wednesday was the LOCUST system, a 20-kilowatt directed-energy weapon built by Virginia-based firm AeroVironment, according to sources who spoke with Reuters and Axios. The U.S. Army views LOCUST as a cutting-edge, cost-effective alternative to missile interceptors, but the Federal Aviation Administration reportedly closed nearby airspace for nearly eight hours after the weapon was fired without coordination. Sources said Customs and Border Protection personnel operated the military-owned system during a border mission. The incident underscores risks tied to early field testing of directed-energy weapons in civilian areas.
 
**Do Drug Cartels Actually Use Drones at the Border? **
 
The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso and the Trump administration’s claim of a suspected cartel drone incursion has renewed debate over the scale of criminal drone activity. U.S. officials, including Homeland Security counter-drone director Steven Willoughby, have cited tens of thousands of drone detections near the border and limited drug seizures, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has downplayed cross-border drone threats. Experts say cartels increasingly use drones for surveillance and attacks inside Mexico, while evidence of sustained cross-border smuggling by drone remains mixed. One analyst suggested that even as American officials overstate the threat, Mexican officials understate it. She noted drones cause excessive attention, and that evidence suggests cartels use legitimate ports of entry for trafficking.
 
MEXICAN AID SHIPS TO CUBA
 
**Mexican Aid Ships Arrive in Cuba as Energy Crisis Deepens **-
 
Two Mexican Navy ships carrying more than 800 tons of humanitarian aid docked in Cuba on Feb. 12 as the island faces a worsening energy crisis linked to tightened U.S. pressure on oil supplies. The deliveries, which included food, powdered milk, and hygiene products, came weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on countries providing oil to Cuba, prompting fuel rationing and disruptions to transportation, aviation, and tourism. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said additional aid would follow as diplomatic efforts continue to restore oil flows. Cuban officials have described the situation as an “energy blockade,” citing widespread economic and social impacts.
 
U.S. & MEXICO
 
**Bipartisan congressional delegation saves upcoming US-Mexico joint military exercise **-
 
Two people familiar with the situation said that bipartisan congressional engagement helped secure Mexican approval for an upcoming joint U.S.-Mexico military exercise after earlier resistance in Mexico’s legislature. Lawmakers had hesitated following the U.S. operation targeting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, but a delegation led by Rep. Michael McCaul and Rep. Henry Cuellar raised the issue directly with Mexican Senate counterparts. President Claudia Sheinbaum formally requested entry for 19 U.S. Marines to train with the Mexican Navy in Campeche from Feb. 15 to April 16, and the Senate unanimously approved the measure. The episode underscores continued legislative influence over bilateral security cooperation amid broader tensions over cartel violence and potential U.S. military action.
 
VENEZUELA
 
**Venezuela’s Feared Regime of Repression Is Slowly Loosening Its Grip** -
 
Small, tenuous signs of political opening have emerged in Venezuela following last month’s removal of longtime strongman Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. Students have staged public protests in Caracas, and authorities have released more than 430 political prisoners, according to rights organization Foro Penal. State television aired comments from opposition leader María Corina Machado, breaking a longstanding taboo, and the interim leadership under Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has signaled limited reforms while engaging U.S. officials. Analysts caution that the opening remains fragile. While protestors apparently no longer fear arrest, abuse, or torture for demonstrating, some opposition figures face renewed restrictions, and a proposed amnesty bill may limit eligibility while preserving the existing power structure.
 
ANOTHER AIRCRAFT CARRIER BSTTKE GROUP HEADING TO MIDDLE EAST
 
**U.S. aircraft carrier to be deployed to Middle East from Venezuela** -
 
The Pentagon is deploying the Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford and its escort ships, to the Middle East, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships already in the region, according to U.S. officials. The move comes as President Trump increases pressure on Iran over its nuclear program, while signaling openness to negotiations. The deployment marks a renewed focus on U.S. Central Command after a temporary pivot to the Western Hemisphere. The carrier strike group adds significant airpower and surveillance capabilities, enabling higher-tempo operations. Officials acknowledge strain on personnel, but say the vessel is prepared for extended operations if required.
 
U.S., ISRAEL & IRAN
 
**Trump says he will strike a deal with Iran over the next month **-
 
President Trump said Thursday that the U.S. must reach a deal with Iran, suggesting one could be achieved within a month to avoid “very traumatic” consequences. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after meeting with Trump, said the president believes Iran could be pressured into accepting favorable terms in a renewed agreement. Netanyahu described their discussions as focused primarily on Iran, alongside other regional issues, including Gaza. While expressing skepticism about the prospects for a deal, he reiterated that any agreement must address not only Iran’s nuclear program but also its ballistic missiles and regional proxies. He reportedly shared intelligence on its military and missile program, urging any potential U.S. strike to include those targets.
 
STARLINK IN IRAN
 
**U.S. Smuggled Thousands of Starlink Terminals Into Iran After Protest Crackdown** -
 
The Trump administration reportedly smuggled roughly 6,000 Starlink terminals into Iran after the regime’s deadly crackdown on protesters last month, marking the first direct U.S. delivery of the satellite-internet kits. The covert effort aimed to help dissidents maintain online access amid widespread internet blackouts. Officials said President Trump was aware of the operation, which diverted funds from U.S.-backed VPN programs. Critics argue the move left activists more vulnerable to detection, as VPN funding cuts reduced broader digital access. Washington denies fomenting unrest, though the operation underscores deeper U.S. involvement in Iranian opposition support.
 
IRAN: BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU
 
**Iran Turns to Digital Surveillance Tools to Track Down Protesters **-
 
Iranian authorities have expanded digital surveillance to identify and intimidate participants in the country’s recent anti-government protests, according to researchers and rights groups. Protesters received text messages warning they were under “intelligence monitoring,” with analysts concluding officials likely used mobile location data and facial recognition tools to track them. Authorities have reportedly suspended SIM cards, disrupted banking services and conducted interrogations based on digital evidence. Much of the surveillance is tied to Iran’s National Information Network, developed since 2013 to centralize internet control and monitoring. Researchers say tools include spyware, traffic interception systems and centralized digital identity programs linking personal data to online behavior. Despite efforts by citizens to bypass controls, including satellite internet, authorities have moved to close gaps and deter circumvention.
 
INDIA: HINDU PERSECUTION BY MUSLIMS
 
**India: 40 Hindu families put houses up for sale after harassment from local Muslims and police inaction** -
 
An entire neighbourhood in Agra’s Bhagwan Nagar colony has erupted in anger and fear after around 40 Hindu families simultaneously put up “house for sale” posters on their homes, alleging sustained harassment by local Muslims and police inaction. The unprecedented move has turned a long‑simmering local dispute into a high‑profile law and order and communal sensitivity issue in Uttar Pradesh. Local reports indicate that the affected stretch is overwhelmingly Hindu and that families claim they no longer feel safe keeping their children and women outside even for routine work, due to repeated altercations and threats from a group of local Muslim youths. Many residents have openly spoken of “palaayan” (migration) as an option if security and justice are not assured, becoming a case of forced exodus.
 
U.K. JIHADI TERRORIST TO BE FREED
 
**Muslim who plotted jihad massacre at Army base is set to be released three years early** -
 
One of Britain’s most dangerous terrorists, who was jailed for a plot to bomb an Army base in Luton, is set to be released from jail three years early – despite expert advice advising against the release. Zahid Iqbal, along with Mohammed Sharfaraz Ahmed, Umar Arshad and Syed Farhan Hussain, admitted to discussing a theoretical attack on the site back in 2013. During his sentencing, the 31-year-old, who was also one of the gang’s ringleaders, was sentenced to life in prison, with the judge imposing a custodial sentence of at least 11 years and three months, with a five-year extension period. But the parole board has ruled that Al-Qaeda-inspired Iqbal could be allowed back out onto the streets of Britain three years earlier than his maximum sentence. Both Iqbal and Ahmed spoke about creating an improvised explosive device (IED) between January 2011 and April 2012. They discussed following instructions in an online Al-Qaeda manual “How to make a bomb in the kitchen of your mom – by the al-Qaeda chef”. The parole board has told GB News: “The panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on his victims.
 
AFRICA: DRC
 
**Democratic Republic of the Congo: Muslims praise Allah after murdering 24 Christians and burning down 20 homes** -
 
At least 24 Christians were killed as Islamist militants carried out new attacks in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on February 6. Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) claimed the massacre of “21 Christians … praise be to Allah” as well as the burning down of 20 homes in the Lubero District of North Kivu Province. In a separate social media post the terrorists celebrated the killing “with machine guns” of three Christians in the city of Beni, also in North Kivu. M23 and ISCAP are among the many armed groups responsible for mass killings, abductions, sexual violence, and displacement across northeastern DRC. In a recent video one of ISCAP’s leaders, Bonge La Chuma, denounced the M23 rebels as “infidels,” emphasizing ISCAP’s aim of establishing sharia (Islamic law) in DRC. In July 2025 the Islamists demanded that Christians either convert to Islam or accept dhimmi status as subjugated people and pay the jizya tax to their conquerors. “Let the Christians of Africa know,” the group declared, “that there is no security for you except by Islam or jizya.” ISCAP (formerly known as the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF) has claimed the killing of more than 800 Christians in northeastern DRC since its violence against Christian communities escalated in December 2024.
 
SOMALIA
 
**Covert mission led by Sudanese officers to train Somali militias** -
 
In recent months, a team of Sudanese military personnel has trained a thousand Somali recruits in the state of Galmudug. The operation was led by the Mogadishu intelligence services, headed by Mahad Salad, against a backdrop of internal tensions between the federal states. Training started in December 2024 at the Adado camp in Somalia's central Galmudug state. Some 973 men received instruction there, supported from January 2025 by a group of 15 Sudanese officers and NCOs. At the same time, under NISA oversight, 432 recruits began intensive training at the Guriel training centre, 150 kilometres away, to bolster the ranks of a "civil guard" - a self-defence militia. In March, that group travelled to Adado to join other forces. NISA's military training department oversaw the operation and brought in Sudanese instructors.
 
HIZBOLLAH WEBSITE
 
**Hizbullah Website Releases 'Target Cards' On U.S., Israeli, And Partner Nation Military Bases In Middle East And Africa, Amid Heightening Tensions With Iran** -
 
Since January 27, 2026, the website, Al-Khanadeq, has published what it calls "target cards" about American, British, Israeli, and Arab Gulf military installations in the Middle East. The outlet has warned that, if U.S.-Iranian tensions heighten, the identified locations could be targeted by Iranian forces. Al-Khanadeq has provided information about locations in Israel and the West Bank, Oman, Iraq, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Turkey, Cyprus, and the Indian Ocean, as well as Lebanon and east Africa. Each target card comprises a photo of the military site, as well as information detailing its history, function, and features. For example, a target card released on January 27 detailed information about Diego Garcia, a U.S.-U.K. military installation on the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Al-Khanadeq wrote: "The Diego Garcia Base in considered one of the most prominent and important American military bases in the Indian Ocean, which – without doubt – will be a target for the Islamic Republic of Iran if America uses it as a launchpad for aggression against Iran."
 
**As U.S. Bombs Somalia, Israel Shakes Status Quo on Horn of Africa** -
 
Since taking office, President Trump has intensified U.S. military operations in Somalia, with U.S. Africa Command conducting roughly 150 strikes against Al Shabab and Islamic State targets. Israel recently became the first nation to recognize the self-declared independent Somaliland, drawing criticism from major powers and the African Union. Analysts say the Horn of Africa is emerging as a focal point for geopolitical competition, driven by access to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and Israel’s efforts to counter Iran-backed Houthi forces. While Washington has not altered its position on Somaliland, it continues close coordination with Somalia’s government, wary that recognition could complicate counterterrorism operations and regional stability.
 
U.S. CENTCOM & SYRIA
 
**US Central Command’s (CENTCOM) withdrawal from key bases in Syria illustrates that the United States is gradually shifting its counter-Islamic State in Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) framework to engage with the Syrian government rather than the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) **-
 
CENTCOM confirmed on February 11 that US forces completed their withdrawal from al Tanf Garrison in the central Syrian desert as part of a “deliberate and conditions-based transition.” US forces have maintained a presence at the al Tanf Garrison since 2015 alongside a Syrian opposition group known as the Syrian Free Army (formerly known as Maghawhir al Thawra). US forces and the Syrian Free Army established the al Tanf Garrison to prevent ISIS from taking over the entire Iraq-Syria border in 2015, and US forces maintained their presence there to monitor the expansion of Iran’s military activity in Syria in coordination with Israel and Jordan.
 
IRAQ & DAESH/ISLAMIC STATE
 
**Iraq Interrogates Islamic State Suspects Transferred from Syria** -
 
Iraq has begun interrogating more than 5,000 suspected Islamic State militants recently transferred from Kurdish-run prisons in northeastern Syria, officials confirmed. The detainees—representing 60 nationalities—were moved to Baghdad’s Al-Karkh Central Prison with U.S. military assistance to prevent potential prison breaks amid renewed regional instability. Iraqi Judge Ali Hussein Jafat, overseeing the process, said trials will be public and focus on those accused of crimes committed in Iraq. The transfer, requested by Baghdad, aims to ease security risks and close a long-standing legal gap for suspects held for years without charge in Syria.
 
Pray.
 
Train.
 
Stay informed.
 
Be vigilant.
 
— END REPORT