The U.S. military used a laser weapon in southern Texas' Rio Grande Valley to shoot down three drones linked to Mexican drug cartels near the U.S.-Mexico border earlier this week.

U.S. officials announced the action on Thursday. The North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command detailed the engagement in an official statement.

The incident occurred in a region that has seen repeated challenges from cross-border criminal activity. The successful use of directed-energy technology demonstrates advancing capabilities for rapid response to aerial threats.

Cartels have increasingly turned to drones for smuggling and surveillance along the southern border. The operation marks another instance of U.S. forces employing new tools to counter those tactics.

NORAD and NORTHCOM emphasized the coordinated effort between commands responsible for homeland defense. The statement provided no further operational details at this time.

Border security remains a priority for military and law enforcement agencies amid ongoing cartel operations. This week's engagement highlights the evolving nature of those threats and the responses developed to address them.