Hezbollah Uses Fiber Optic Drones to Counter Israeli Forces
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 1 - Recent videos released by Hezbollah on social media platforms and its affiliated Al-Manar TV show that Hezbollah has used a new weapon - fiber-optic drones - in its attacks against the Israeli military.
Last week, an attack launched by Hezbollah using fiber-optic drones resulted in the death of one Israeli soldier and injuries to six others. According to an Associated Press report on April 30, unlike remote-controlled drones that are susceptible to electronic interference, fiber-optic drones are controlled via a fiber-optic cable as thin as a dental floss, allowing them to evade electronic detection and interference. Some fiber-optic drones can fly up to 50 kilometers, primarily targeting Israeli soldiers entering southern Lebanese towns.
This photo, taken on April 26, shows Israeli military forces gathered on the Israeli side of the Lebanon-Israel border. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Gil Cohen-Magen)
Former commander of the Israeli air defense forces, Ran Kohav, stated that Israel has not succeeded in defending against fiber-optic drones. "These drones fly low and fast, and they are very small, making them difficult to detect; even if they are spotted, they are hard to track."
An Israeli military official, who wished to remain anonymous, said that Hezbollah has turned to using these fiber-optic drones because Israel's air defense systems have a higher success rate against larger, more powerful rockets, missiles, and other drones. Currently, these drones pose the greatest threat to Israeli forces inside Lebanon. However, Israel is taking protective measures, such as adding protective nets and cages to military vehicles.
The official stated that Israel believes these drones are manufactured in Lebanon and are easy to produce, requiring only readily available drones, a small amount of explosives, and transparent cables that can be easily purchased in the consumer market. (Jing Jing)
Hezbollah launched an attack using fiber-optic drones against Israeli Defense Forces, resulting in one soldier killed and six injured. The attack occurred on April 26, 2023, and highlights the effectiveness of these drones in evading Israeli electronic defenses. Israeli officials acknowledged the growing threat posed by these drones, which are believed to be easily produced in Lebanon.
- Hezbollah used fiber-optic drones in an attack on Israeli soldiers.
- One Israeli soldier was killed and six were injured in the attack.
- Fiber-optic drones are less susceptible to electronic interference compared to traditional drones.
- Israeli defense systems have struggled to detect these drones effectively.
- Hezbollah's drones are considered a significant threat to Israeli forces in Lebanon.