An MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashed yesterday in eastern Afghanistan, according to Air Forces Central. The crash was not due to hostile fire, AFCENT said in a release. A board is being convened to investigate the incident. This is the first Air Force Predator crash that we are aware of since last August when ashort circuit felled an MQ-1 near Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.