How Hezbollah’s low-cost drones are reshaping the battlefield as Israel scrambles to adapt
Hezbollah's use of low-cost, fibre-optic tethered drones is presenting new challenges for Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, forcing a shift in military tactics. These drones, which are difficult to detect due to the absence of electronic signals, allow for precise attacks and are part of an asymmetrical warfare strategy. Israel is struggling to develop effective countermeasures, relying on makeshift protections while learning from drone warfare experiences in Ukraine.
- ▪Hezbollah is using inexpensive, fibre-optic tethered drones that are piloted via first-person view and are hard to detect due to no electronic emissions.
- ▪The cost of assembling these drones ranges from a few hundred dollars to about $4,000, with components often sourced from online platforms like AliExpress.
- ▪Israel has not yet developed foolproof defences against these drones and previously declined an offer from Ukraine to share drone warfare expertise.
- ▪Hezbollah’s media chief confirmed the drones are being manufactured within Lebanon as part of exploiting perceived weaknesses in Israel’s military superiority.
- ▪The current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, 2026, following Israeli and U.S. military actions against Iran, Hezbollah’s main backer.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
News/Defence News/Middle east crisis: How Hezbollah’s low-cost drones are reshaping the battlefield as Israel scrambles to adaptMiddle east crisis: How Hezbollah’s low-cost drones are reshaping the battlefield as Israel scrambles to adaptTOI World Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 02, 2026, 09:44 ISTCommentsShareAA+Text SizeSmallMediumLarge AP file photo Cheap fibre-optic drones deployed by Hezbollah are posing new operational challenges for Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, prompting the military to adjust its tactics in response to an increasingly lethal threat.The devices are small, inexpensive and widely available, resembling "children's toys", said Orna Mizrahi, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies.The military "does not have nowadays any response for…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Times of India — Top.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Times of India — Top
