Turkish Combat Drones Spread Across the Arab World, From Yemen to Libya
Recent incidents show Turkish-made Akinci and TB2 drones operating in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Libya and other Arab states, highlighting the rapid diffusion of Ankara’s unmanned weapons in the region.
In the past weeks the Houthis reported shooting down a Turkish-made Akinci drone flown by the Royal Saudi Air Force over Yemen’s Al Jawf governorate, and satellite images later confirmed at least two Akinci aircraft stationed at Al-Khadim airbase in eastern Libya. These events underscore how Turkish combat drones have become commonplace across the Middle East and North Africa, with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and several other states purchasing or co-producing models such as the Akinci, TB2 and Anka-S. Saudi-Akinci deliveries stem from a 2023 contract described by Baykar as Turkey’s largest defence export, which included joint-production and pilot training that began in October 2025.
The UAE, after previously fielding Chinese Wing Loong II drones, switched to Turkish platforms and integrated its Desert Sting 16 guided bomb onto TB2s by late 2025. Yemen’s government is also training pilots on Turkish drones, though deliveries have not yet begun. The spread reflects a broader regional pivot toward Ankara’s unmanned systems, replacing earlier Chinese suppliers and reshaping local power balances.
Why it matters
Turkey’s drones are reshaping military capabilities and alliances across the Arab world.
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