An old-new threat is increasingly being used by Hezbollah against IDF forces in southern Lebanon—small explosive drones that cost only a few hundred shekels but can carry lethal warheads.
On Sunday night, Hezbollah launched an explosive drone at IDF troops in southern Lebanon, killing Sgt. Idan Fooks, H’yd, and wounding four others. The terror group then fired additional drones at rescue teams and the helicopter that landed in the area to evacuate the casualties.
Footage from the scene shows a drone exploding just meters from the helicopter. It was a neis that the aircraft wasn’t hit and that no further soldiers were injured in the incident.
These inexpensive drones can be launched from considerable distances, allowing Hezbollah terrorists to target IDF soldiers without exposing themselves to danger.
The IDF has already confronted similar threats from Hamas during the war in Gaza, and Hezbollah now appears to have adopted similar tactics. As its rocket and anti-tank fire capabilities have been significantly degraded, the terror group is resorting to improvised, low-cost warfare methods, which are, unfortunately, no less deadly or dangerous.
Explosive drones are inherently difficult to counter. Their small size and quiet operation make them hard to detect before impact, and their remote control and unpredictable flight paths complicate interception by air defense systems.
One common countermeasure involves disrupting a drone’s navigation systems through electronic warfare. However, Hezbollah has reportedly adopted techniques seen in the Russia–Ukraine war, including the use of fiber-optic control systems. A thin fiber-optic cable connects the drone directly to its operator, creating a wired control link that cannot be jammed or hacked like standard wireless systems.
This allows the operator to receive high-quality, real-time video throughout the flight, enabling precise and targeting and posing a significant operational challenge for the IDF.
The widespread use of explosive drones has already been demonstrated in Ukraine, along with various countermeasures developed there. During the war, Ukrainian officials reportedly offered to share operational insights with Israel on countering such threats, but the initiative was not pursued.
The video below, published by Hezbollah, shows an explosive drone damaging a tank:
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
