The US military presence in Afghanistan ended on August 31, 2021, leaving the country without US military or intelligence eyes and ears. The Biden administration announced a shift to "over-the-horizon" counterterrorism operations (OTH-CT) that rely heavily on stand-off assets like satellites and airpower. However, the use of drones for targeting terrorist threats has come under criticism for causing disproportionate civilian casualties. Congressional leaders sent a letter to the president on January 20, 2022, calling for a review of the OTH-CT strategy due to unintended and deadly consequences of US drone strikes. The use of drones for counterterrorism purposes is questioned due to the negative impact on civilian populations and the potential to increase anger towards the US.
