Fears are escalating inside Israel over Hezbollah’s offensive capabilities, accompanied by stark warnings that the occupation army is being steadily depleted amid a war of attrition imposed by the resistance.
Concerns are growing within ‘Israel’ about the increasing complexity of the confrontation with Hezbollah, given the ongoing war of attrition imposed by the resistance. This coincides with escalating anxiety over the growing use and development of attack drones, amid warnings that the rising casualties among occupation soldiers will negatively impact the army’s readiness and combat capabilities.
Experts and former Israeli occupation military officials believe that Hezbollah has succeeded in imposing new field and political realities. Suicide drones have become one of the most prominent daily challenges facing the occupation forces in Lebanon and within the occupied Palestinian territories, with increasing warnings about the wider use of this weapon in the coming period.
Hezbollah drones paralyze up to 80% of Israeli army operations in south Lebanon
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) May 19, 2026
——
Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Monday, 17 May that the Israeli army estimates Hezbollah’s explosive drones are severely restricting its operational freedom in south Lebanon, disrupting… pic.twitter.com/FKSGwjBTQr
Giora Anbar, former head of the liaison unit in southern Lebanon, stated: “A small explosive drone can signify a major strategic failure if our enemy, Hezbollah, knows how to produce, control, and operate such drones against our forces. In that case, we haven’t solved the problem; we’ve merely pushed it back for a few days, and it will return with renewed force.”
Anbar added: “There are many casualties among soldiers in Lebanon, and the issue of the wounded is being ignored. This is extremely important for the forces because the issue of the wounded is exhausting and disrupts military structures and units. This must be taken into consideration.”
Amir Bar Shalom, Israeli military analyst, said: “Hezbollah’s strength stems not only from its firepower but also from the politics and equations it has imposed.” He pointed out that “the equations under Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah were based on the principle: ‘You do this, and I will do that.’” Bar Shalom added: “Hezbollah is accumulating power that is not only military but also internal, and this is dangerous.”
Guy Amrousi, a former official in the Israeli air defense system, warned of the danger of suicide drones, saying: “We believe that these drones are currently present in the north, and they can also reach the center. They can come from anywhere and in very large numbers, and currently we do not know how to deal with them. This is a real and tangible danger to us.”
In contrast, enemy circles focused on the repercussions experienced by settlers in the north, given Hezbollah’s targeting of military sites near settlements. This has transformed the lives of residents into something resembling a siege, severely restricting their movement.
Eli Meiri, deputy commander of a reserve armored brigade in the occupation army, said: “Hezbollah has imposed a siege, in one way or another, on the residents of the front line.” He added: “From the moment schools close and children can’t go outside for recess, and public buses stop running, and families think eight times before going to the grocery store or the clinic for treatment, that’s a siege.”
Guy Faron, a correspondent for Channel 12 in the north, said: “The army and the security establishment have no effective response on how to deal with the attack drones, which hover for extended periods and then explode at their intended target.”
> Maha:
He added: “This is happening very close to an Israeli town. Residents are witnessing and filming these drones with their own eyes. How can we maintain our daily routines when a booby-trapped drone is flying overhead, just tens of meters away?”
The settlers accused Benjamin Netanyahu’s government ministers of cowardice, claiming they are making pronouncements from afar, far from the north, and are afraid to visit the northern settlements or tell the residents there that they stand with them.
Source: Al-Manar English Website