Israeli newspaper Maariv reports that fiber-optic drones, which cannot be countered by conventional electronic warfare, are emerging as a major threat along the northern border and potentially beyond.
At least eight Israeli enemy soldiers have been wounded in a series of drone-related incidents in southern Lebanon, according to the Israeli newspaper Maariv.
Citing events on Wednesday, the paper reported that multiple drones struck Israeli forces in the border area. On Thursday, the Israeli military spokesperson confirmed that one soldier was seriously injured and three others sustained minor wounds when an explosive-laden drone targeted an Israeli unit in southern Lebanon. The wounded were evacuated to a hospital, and their families have been notified.
In parallel, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for additional strikes: its fighters launched a drone that scored a direct hit on a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the town of Aita al-Shaab, and also targeted Israeli military vehicles and personnel in the town of Rashaf with a rocket barrage.
Growing Drone Anxiety
Beyond the immediate casualties, Maariv highlighted deepening Israeli security concerns over Hezbollah’s drone capabilities. The newspaper noted that the threat is no longer confined to the northern border.
“With the use of fiber-optic drones against Israeli army forces in southern Lebanon and settlements along the border fence, security sources warn that this threat could extend to the West Bank,” Maariv reported. Such a development would pose “a new challenge to settlements along the Green Line, the Sharon region, and central Israel.”
The paper conceded that “Israel has not yet found a complete solution to the drone threat,” explaining that Hezbollah has taken “a ready-made product, equipped it with an explosive device, and connected it to a fiber-optic system, turning it into a closed operating system that cannot be disabled by conventional electronic warfare.”
Source: Maariv (translated and edited by Al-Manar)