
Drones in the Iran–US–Israel War: How Cheap UAVs Are Redefining Modern Warfare
Cheap yet lethal drones are transforming modern warfare by enabling weaker states to challenge technologically superior militaries. Iran’s use of Shahed drones illustrates how cost-effective UAVs are redefining the power balance in contemporary conflicts.





![Pakistan’s Cross-Border Strikes and the Evolving Counterterror Doctrine Afghan men search for victims after a Pakistani air strike hit a residential area in the Girdi Kas village, Nangarhar province on February 22, 2026. [Aimal Zahir/AFP/Getty Images]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/gettyimages-2262391441.webp)


