How Did Hezbollah's Drones Bypass Israeli Defense?

Reference News Network reported on May 20 The French magazine "Le Point" published an article on May 16 titled "Drone Warfare: How Hezbollah Breaks Through Israeli Defenses," authored by Bastian Lejeune. The full translation is as follows:

Similar to the war in Ukraine, battles in the Middle East are increasingly centered around drones. Although Israel has previously been able to disrupt Hezbollah's drones due to its technological advantage, this Shiite militia group seems to have found ways to evade air defense systems.

In recent weeks, Hezbollah has repeatedly used first-person view (FPV) suicide drones to attack Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. These drones allow operators to view real-time footage from the drone's camera without exposing themselves to risk. They are inexpensive, lightweight, and more precise than missiles.

The new generation of drones is now guided by a long fiber optic cable connecting the quadcopter to the ground operator. This makes their signals nearly undetectable by air defense systems, which also cannot intercept them. According to a source in the Israeli military cited by CNN, this fiber is thin enough, light enough, and nearly invisible to the naked eye, extending up to 15 kilometers.

Despite Israel's air defense systems being known for their efficiency, they now seem overwhelmed by this new technology. According to an investigative report by The Washington Post, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem boasted to his fighters, "Your drones have suppressed the occupying entity, instilling fear in the tyrants on the ground."

Even Israeli authorities acknowledge facing these difficulties. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously stated that he has "ordered the launch of a special program to address the drone threat." A source in the Israeli military quoted by CNN said, "There is almost nothing we can do besides physical barriers (like protective nets). This is a low-tech system adapted to asymmetric warfare."

In response to the widespread use of these drones, Israel has also decided to get involved. According to reports from the Israel Defense Forces radio, the military has established a factory to produce its own "suicide drones." The Washington Post reported that Israeli military officials stated that in two months, thousands of drones could be produced each month. (Translation/ Liu Zhuo)