As Iran continues to suppress widespread protests, reports emerge of significant casualties, with demonstrations expanding nationwide. Authorities have also issued warnings regarding the use of drones for surveillance.
The Center for Human Rights in Iran has described the situation as a “massacre,” while the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) noted the presence of surveillance drones and security forces maneuvering near protest sites, suggesting ongoing observation and control measures.
Military drone expert Cameron Chell explained to Fox News Digital that drones serve as crucial tools for reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence, which have provided the Iranian government with a strategic advantage in managing the protests.
“I don’t foresee drones being used for direct attacks at this stage,” Chell stated. “However, it wouldn’t be surprising if drones were utilized not just for surveillance but also to assist in deploying snipers and intimidating protesters.”
This use of drones underscores the gravity with which the government is addressing the unrest.
The extent of the violence remains challenging to confirm, as Iran experiences an almost complete internet shutdown. Connectivity with the global internet is reportedly at just 1% of normal capacity, as per 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.
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.”
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.
“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.”
