What is "ababil"

n. 1 (context Islamic mythology English) A race of tiny birds. 2 (context military English) An Iranian made UAV.

The ababil are a race of birds,(in English known as Swallow) is mentioned in the Quran, that protected Mecca from the Yemen army by dropping small stones on the Yemen elephants as they approached. This was, according to the Quran, done so in 571, the year immediately after the birth of the Muslim prophet Muhammed.