INTERNACIONAL
Iran’s ‘distinctive’ drone deployment sees death toll soar amid violent protests
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Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests continued Sunday, with reports of mass killings as demonstrations spread across the country amid warnings of drone surveillance.
The Center for Human Rights in Iran claimed a «massacre was unfolding,» while the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported «surveillance drones flying overhead and movements by security forces around protest locations, indicating ongoing monitoring and security control.»
«Drones are indispensable reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence tools,» military drone expert Cameron Chell told Fox News Digital. «They have given the Iranian government a distinctive upper hand in combating the protests.»
«I doubt there will be any use of drones for direct strikes at this point,» Chell said. «But I would not be surprised if, beyond surveillance, they were using drones to help position snipers and shock protesters.»
IRAN PROTESTS GROW DEADLIER AS REGIME INTERNET BLACKOUT FAILS TO STOP UPRISING
«It does indicate the level of seriousness the government is applying towards the situation.»
The full scale of the violence has been difficult to verify due to a near-total internet blackout. Iran’s connectivity to the outside world remained at roughly 1% of normal levels, according to NetBlocks.
The most conservative estimates indicate at least 2,000 people may have been killed across Iran over the past 48 hours, Iran International reported.
The deaths of 544 people involved in the protests have been confirmed, with dozens of additional cases under review, according to HRANA.
HRANA said more than 10,681 individuals have been arrested and transferred to prisons. Protests have been recorded at 585 locations in 186 cities across all 31 provinces, the agency reported.
Witnesses told Iran International that security forces appeared «overstretched in some areas,» relying on intimidation, warning shots and force.
GRAHAM WARNS IRANIAN AYATOLLAH: ‘TRUMP IS GONNA KILL YOU’ IF INTERNAL CRACKDOWN CONTINUES
In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran’s Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)
In other locations, particularly in southeastern Iran, rights groups said security forces fired directly at protesters in Zahedan after prayers, wounding several people.
Ali Safavi, a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, told Fox News Digital that drones were observed over Ferdow Boulevard in Tehran-sar.
«The regime, in fear of the people, deployed drones to monitor and control the demonstrations,» Safavi said. «In other areas there were clashes and assaults from the suppressive forces.»
Chell, CEO and co-founder of Draganfly, claimed more danger was imminent given Iran’s sudden use of drones.
«Iran would not be unique or advanced by western standards in using drones, but they are advanced in their tactical understanding and effectiveness using them,» he said. «This drone deployment 100% signals more danger as if, for no other reason, it enables the regime to know when and where to deploy resources.»
«It helps track specific people or groups who flee protest sites,» Chell continued. «They could also be using cells for tracking and listening so they could track protesters’ cell phones who were at the protest sites.»
ARMED IRAN PROTESTERS BATTLE POLICE IN TEHRAN STREETS AS TRUMP WARNS OF FORCEFUL US RESPONSE
This frame grab from a video released Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, by Iranian state television shows a man holding a device to document burning vehicles during a night of mass protests in Zanjan, Iran. (Iranian state TV via AP)
Chell said Iran relies largely on small, domestically produced systems.
«They would have the Bina, which has a smaller reconnaissance drone with a shorter operational range of up to 40 km,» he said. «These are typically lightweight, equipped with optical/infrared cameras, used to monitor movement and relay imagery back to ground stations. These are the ones most likely to be adapted for crowd monitoring throughout cities.»
Protests that began Dec. 28 over Iran’s economic collapse have evolved into the largest anti-regime demonstrations in years, according to analysts and opposition groups.
«We could see an escalation in the use of intimidation/force multiplier effect of drones and/or the use of tear gas or smoke to help create crowd disbursement,» Chell said.
President Donald Trump renewed warnings to Tehran, saying the U.S. stands ready to support protesters and cautioned Iranian authorities against the use of lethal force.
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«Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP,» he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump also said that protesters appear to be gaining ground in some cities and warned Iranian leaders not to begin shooting demonstrators, saying, «we’ll start shooting too.»
iran,world protests,middle east,drones,human rights,mass murder,persecutions
INTERNACIONAL
ICE head says agents facing ‘constant impediments’ after migrant seen ramming cars while trying to flee
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Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons argued on Tuesday that federal immigration agents are facing «constant impediments» and «constant attacks» after video showed a suspected illegal migrant in San Antonio ramming cars in an attempt to flee.
The video shows the migrant in a car ramming into vehicles that were blocking them in from the front and the back, as the individual attempted to evade arrest.
During an appearance on Fox News’ «Hannity,» Lyons was asked if rhetoric from Democrats criticizing ICE can be tied to incidents like these.
REP RO KHANNA DEMANDS PROSECUTION OF ICE AGENT IN MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons argued that federal immigration agents are facing «constant impediments» and «constant attacks.» (Reuters/Leah Millis)
«When we hear elected officials calling upon individuals to impede or obstruct ICE law enforcement operations nationwide, you’re going to see incidents like this,» Lyons responded. «You saw the officers and agents attempting to apprehend a criminally illegal alien, and there they are using their car as a weapon.»
Lyons said one of the agents went to a hospital with neck injuries after their vehicle was struck in the incident.
«Every day, this is what the men and women of ICE are facing,» he claimed. «It’s constant impediments, constant attacks like this. And it’s not safe for my folks, it’s not safe for the public. It really needs to stop.»
He also purported that «criminal gangs» are organizing groups to impede or obstruct immigration enforcement operations.
New video shows a migrant in a car ramming into vehicles that were blocking them in from the front and the back, as the individual attempted to evade arrest. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
«It’s a constitutional right to go out there and protest. But when you have organized criminal gangs, which these are, that are organizing these groups to, again, impede or obstruct law enforcement operations … that’s a criminal act. I will tell you that Homeland Security investigations, my folks, the FBI, we’re investigating these and people can be held accountable because you can’t organize groups to go out and impede law enforcement. It’s a criminal act, and we have to act swiftly to prevent this from spreading,» he said.
Lyons was also asked about recent comments from Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who vowed to prosecute any ICE agent who commits unlawful acts during operations in the city while stressing that his threat does not apply to «honest, decent, moral» agents.
«The men and women of ICE, the men and women of HSI, they’re not committing any crimes,» Lyons argued. «So he doesn’t have to worry about arresting any of my folks because what we’re doing is we’re enforcing the law. We are out there every day making this nation and his city safe again. So he shouldn’t worry about the men and women of ICE. What he should worry about is the sanctuary policies that have these criminal aliens go back to his neighborhoods and commit heinous crimes like fentanyl trafficking, human trafficking, rape of a child. He should focus on those and let law enforcement do law enforcement work.»
PHOTOS RELEASED OF RENEE NICOLE GOOD, THE US CITIZEN KILLED BY ICE IN MINNESOTA
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said one of the agents went to a hospital with neck injuries after their vehicle was struck in the incident. (Christopher Dilts/Getty Images)
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This comes on the heels of a recent incident in Minnesota, where Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by masked ICE agent Jonathan Ross, who fired into the driver’s open window from the side of the vehicle and subsequently exclaimed «f–king b—h» as the car crashed into another parked vehicle.
Democrats and local residents have condemned the shooting as a murder and called for Ross’ prosecution, while the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers have defended the incident by arguing that it was a justified shooting.
immigration,illegal immigrants,enforcement,texas,us,politics
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At least 22 people were killed and 64 injured in Thailand Wednesday after a construction crane fell on a passenger train, officials said.
The crane struck a moving train in Nakhon Ratchasima province as it traveled from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani, causing the train to derail and catch fire, according to the province’s Public Relations Department.
The department said in a Facebook post that the fire was under control and that officials were searching for people believed to be trapped inside the train.
LOCALS CALL OUT ‘EXCESSIVE TOURISM’ AFTER TRAM CRASH LEAVES AT LEAST 15 DEAD AND 18 INJURED
A construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, on Wednesday, Jan. 14. (State Railway of Thailand via AP)
Transport Minister Piphat Ratchakitprakan said there were nearly 200 people on board the train and that an investigation was underway.
SEVERAL ELEPHANTS KILLED IN TRAIN COLLISION AS IMPACT CAUSES MULTIPLE COACHES TO DERAIL
The aftermath of a deadly crane collapse that struck a passenger train in Thailand. (State Railway of Thailand via AP)
«Nineteen bodies have been recovered, but there are still some inside the train carriages that cannot be removed yet because the crane started shifting, so the team pulled back for fear of danger,» said Police Col. Thatchapon Chinnawong, according to Reuters.
Chinnawong added that those who were killed were in two of the three carriages struck by the crane.
A train traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani derailed after a construction crane fell onto one of its carriages. (Ministry of Transport/Handout via Reuters)
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This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
disasters,thailand,transportation,fires disasters
INTERNACIONAL
El primer mensaje en la cuenta de Nicolás Maduro tras el final del bloqueo a X en Venezuela
Tras más de un año de bloqueo, Venezuela levantó este martes la prohibición a la red social X, antes conocida como Twitter, que es propiedad del magnate estadounidense Elon Musk. Hubo mensajes de los principales dirigentes del chavismo. Y se destacó una imagen en la cuenta del propio Nicolás Maduro, detenido en una cárcel de Nueva York.
En el perfil del líder chavista publicaron un afiche que lo muestra con su esposa Cilia Flores, también capturada por Estados Unidos; y con la actual presidenta encargada de Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez.
Sobre impreso hay un contador que reza: «Han transcurrido 11 días de su secuestro».
Más abajo se encuentra la consigna con la que el gobierno venezolano busca impulsar una tendencia en la red social X: «#LosQueremosDeVuelta». Y al pie van los nombres completos de Maduro y Flores, junto con sus funciones. «Presidente de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela» y «Primera Combatiente», respectivamente.
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) January 14, 2026
Venezuela restableció el acceso a X en la noche del martes. El bloqueo había sido ordenado hace más de un año por el depuesto presidente Nicolás Maduro luego de su controvertida reelección en julio de 2024.
La suspensión entró en vigencia el 9 de agosto de 2024, poco después de ser proclamado vencedor de las presidenciales entre denuncias de fraude.
Ministros, parlamentarios e instituciones del gobierno pararon el uso de esta red que era el primer canal de información del país. Desde entonces su acceso dentro de Venezuela era solo posible mediante el uso de una red privada, también denominada VPN.
Usuarios de la operadora telefónica Digitel podían acceder a X, constató la AFP. En otras compañías como Movistar y la estatal Cantv el acceso a la plataforma era aún parcial.
El mensaje anterior de Maduro databa del 8 de agosto de 2024.
«Fuera X por #10Días de Venezuela! En nuestro país hay Constitución, Ley, Instituciones y Estado. 10 días para que presente sus recaudos. Qué se acaben los planes en redes para sembrar violencia, odio y de atacar a #Venezuela desde el exterior. El #PuebloVenezolano merece respeto», afirmó en ese tuit.
Iba acompañada de una «nota de la comunidad» en la que desmentían la acusación del líder chavista.
«La aplicación X no es la que genera odio o violencia, como trata de relatarlo Nicolás Maduro, permite la libertad de expresión y en el contexto sociopolítico venezolano actual, la transparencia es una desventaja para el régimen, por lo que decide restringirla», señalaba esa nota.
Los primeros tuits de Delcy Rodríguez y Diosdado Cabello, pero sin cuentas verificadas
Altos dirigentes del chavismo como la presidenta interina, Delcy Rodríguez, y el ministro de Interior, Diosdado Cabello, publicaron mensajes más temprano para informar que retomaban el uso de X.
«Retomamos contacto por esta vía. Venezuela sigue de pie, con fortaleza y conciencia histórica. íSigamos unidos, avanzando por la tranquilidad económica, la justicia social y el Estado de bienestar en el que merecemos encontrarnos!», publicó Rodríguez.
La presidenta interina asumió el poder tras la captura de Maduro el 3 de enero durante ataques de fuerzas estadounidenses que dejaron más de 100 muertos en Venezuela, según cifras oficiales.
Retomamos contacto por esta vía. Venezuela sigue de pie, con fortaleza y conciencia histórica. 🇻🇪
¡Sigamos unidos, avanzando por la tranquilidad económica, la justicia social y el Estado de bienestar en el que merecemos encontrarnos!
— Delcy Rodríguez (@delcyrodriguezv) January 14, 2026
Por su parte, Cabello confirmó que va a «retomar» la vía de X para comunicarse con sus seguidores.
«Paso por aquí a darle un gran abrazo a los hermanos y hermanas de Venezuela y el mundo que han estado pendientes del tema de nuestro país, vamos a retomar esta vía para comunicarnos, pendientes. Nosotros Venceremos!!», escribió el número dos del partido.
Paso por aquí a darle un gran abrazo a los hermanos y hermanas de Venezuela y el mundo que han estado pendientes del tema de nuestro país, vamos a retomar esta vía para comunicarnos, pendientes. Nosotros Venceremos!!
— Diosdado Cabello R (@dcabellor) January 13, 2026
Un detalle: en las primeras horas ninguno de los dos tenía cuenta verificada, ni la azul, de usuario pago, ni la gris, atribuida la «cuenta de una organización gubernamental o multilateral».
Maduro sí tiene tilde azul, por una verificación realizada en abril de 2013.
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