Persistent Perils: Illicit MANPADS in the MENA Region

Submitted by Katie Lazaro on 24 April, 2024

Since 1970, armed groups have hit dozens of civilian aircraft with man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), killing more than 1,000 civilians. The international community has taken numerous steps to reduce illicit proliferation, but armed groups in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region continue to acquire and use these systems.