US military bases will be protected by attack drones, under Pentagon plans to repel Iran-linked groups in the Middle East.
On Monday, Lloyd Austin, the defence secretary, announced that the US would expand its Replicator programme, which has been developing American attack drones to be deployed against China.
A new phase of the programme will focus on defensive drones to be deployed at US installations at home and abroad.
It follows months of drone attacks on US bases in the Middle East by Iran-linked groups, with one killing three troops at a site in Jordan in January.
On Sunday, the latest strike took place at a base at Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria. No group has yet claimed responsibility. (Read More)
