Iran’s ongoing crackdown on widespread protests intensified on Sunday, with demonstrations expanding across the nation and alarming reports of mass casualties amid warnings about drone surveillance.
The Iranian Center for Human Rights asserted that “genocide is unfolding,” while the Human Rights Defenders News Agency (HRANA) noted that “surveillance drones were patrolling the skies, and security forces were present at protest sites, reflecting a sustained effort at oversight and control.”
Military drone specialist Cameron Chell mentioned to Fox News Digital that “drones are key for reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence gathering.” He suggested that the Iranian government has gained a significant edge in suppressing protests because of them.
“I doubt drones will be used for direct assaults at this stage,” Chell remarked. “Still, it wouldn’t surprise me if they were deployed to pinpoint snipers or intimidate demonstrators.”
“This indicates how seriously the government regards the unrest,” he added.
Determining the extent of the violence has been challenging, particularly due to a near-total internet blackout. According to NetBlocks, internet connectivity was operating at just about 1% of normal capacity.
Conservative estimates suggest at least 2,000 individuals may have lost their lives in Iran over the last 48 hours, as reported by Iran International.
Official figures confirm 544 protesters have died, with numerous other cases still being investigated.
HRANA reported that more than 10,681 individuals were arrested and relocated to prisons. Protests have been logged at 585 sites across 186 cities in 31 provinces.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that security forces were using intimidation, warning shots, and, in some instances, excessive force. In the southeast, specifically in Zahedan, security personnel reportedly fired directly at protesters after prayers, resulting in injuries.
Ali Safavi from the Iranian National Council of Resistance informed Fox News Digital about a drone sighting over Ferdaw Boulevard in Tehransar.
“The regime is afraid of its populace, using drones to oversee and manage demonstrations,” Safavi said. “In other regions, confrontations occurred along with attacks from anti-police groups.”
Chell, co-founder of Draganfly, warned that Iran’s use of drones signals escalating risks.
“While Iran’s drone capability isn’t particularly sophisticated by Western standards, they demonstrate effective tactical understanding,” he explained. “The deployment of these drones definitely suggests heightened threats, as the regime can determine when and where to allocate resources.”
“These tools allow tracking of individuals or groups leaving protest sites,” Chell noted. “Additionally, they might be using cell phones to monitor and wiretap, tracing devices of demonstrators who attended the protests.”
Cheru pointed out that Iran primarily employs small drones produced domestically.
According to Chell, these drones typically operate over relatively short distances and are equipped with both optical and infrared cameras to monitor and relay images back to command centers. These smaller reconnaissance drones are particularly likely to be adapted for urban crowd monitoring.
Protests that initially erupted on December 28 over Iran’s economic crisis have escalated into some of the largest anti-regime demonstrations seen in years, according to analysts and opposition factions.
Chell cautioned that threats from drones, combined with force and the use of tear gas and smoke, could further incite public unrest.
Former President Donald Trump issued a warning to Tehran, expressing U.S. readiness to support the protests and cautioning Iranian officials against employing lethal force.
“Iran seeks freedom perhaps more than ever. The United States stands ready to assist!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
He also cautioned Iranian authorities against firing on demonstrators, claiming that protesters seemed to be gaining momentum in various cities, stating, “We’re going to start shooting.”
