February 12, 2026 at 4:03 PM
The D Brief: El Paso, explained; Navy ships collide; Marines’ aviation plan; Estonia’s warning; And a bit more.
Border patrol agents prompted the extraordinary U.S. airspace closure over El Paso Tuesday night and into Wednesday after using a high-powered laser to shoot down what was later revealed to be a party balloon that had...
Border patrol agents prompted the extraordinary U.S. airspace closure over El Paso Tuesday night and into Wednesday after using a high-powered laser to shoot down what was later revealed to be a party balloon that had drifted into the sky near the U.S.-Mexico border. Initially, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy claimed the U.S.
military was responsible and said the Federal Aviation Administration lifted its 10-day closure after “a cartel drone incursion” had been “neutralized.” That was far from the truth, as military and federal officials familiar with the incident later told media outlets. Customs and Border Protection used the directed-energy weapon “near Fort Bliss without coordinating with the FAA,” the Associated Press reported Wednesday. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth loaned the weapon to Homeland Security officials for a 30-day period that began last month, Fox reported.