Small, inexpensive, easy-to-handle devices, yet the fiber optic explosive drones now used by the Lebanese Hezbollah have been lethal on several occasions, challenging the defense of the Israeli army, one of the world’s most powerful.
The pro-Iranian movement, which previously mainly fired rockets at Israeli territory, now seems to favor drones as fighting continues in southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire in effect since April 17.
In just one week, two soldiers and a civilian contractor were killed by drones, according to the Israeli army – fiber optic devices, according to local media.
Operator pilots control the drone in an immersive view as if they were inside, unlike traditional drones guided by GPS or radio – and therefore vulnerable to jammers – these models are connected to their launch site by a fiber optic cable, up to 50 kilometers in length.
“They are no more complicated to use than a child’s toy,” said Orna Mizrahi, a researcher specializing in Lebanon at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv, adding that they can be bought anywhere, including online platforms.
Typical weapons in asymmetric warfare between armed organizations and much stronger armies, these basic yet formidable devices have proven to be capable of causing considerable damage and now pose a challenge for Israel.
“We know the enemy’s superiority, but at the same time, we take advantage of their weaknesses,” said Youssef al Zein, a Hezbollah official in charge of media relations, explaining that the organization sees it as a tactic.
The army currently lacks a response to these rudimentary explosives, as they are not broadcast via radio and are not guided by a radio receiver, making them immune to electronic detection or neutralization.
The Ukrainian military, who became drone specialists after the 2022 Russian invasion, offered their expertise to Israel, but the Israeli government did not take the threat seriously, according to former Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov.
The laser system developed to intercept short-range weapons like rockets and drones could be a solution, provided it is widely deployed, according to expert Ari Aviram.
In response to the impasse, the Defense Ministry issued a call for proposals for innovative technologies to combat fiber-optic-controlled drones on April 11.
Meanwhile, the military is using “low-tech” methods to counter the drones, including radar detection and visually spotting them – often too late due to their speed – and deploying nets, similar to those used in Ukraine.
Images shared on social media by journalist Amit Segal show military vehicles draped in netting similar to mosquito nets, highlighting the contrast with the usually high technological standards maintained by the army.
