Research: Hezbollah's Explosive Drones Could Cripple Israel's Defence Systems

A research report submitted to Israeli security agencies warns of the growing threat posed by explosive drones used by Hezbollah. The report predicts that these drones will become one of the greatest threats facing the Israeli military on its northern border, even cautioning that the current defence systems could potentially collapse if no fundamental changes are made to the handling strategy. According to the report published by Israel’s Channel 12, the study was compiled in November 2024 by a research centre under the Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at Reichman University in Israel. The research was led by Dr Uzi Landau, a former director of the defence industrial company Rafael. The report states that over the past two years, small drones carrying explosives have evolved into one of the most dangerous threats to Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and within Israeli territory. This is due to their low production costs, relatively easy manufacturing process, difficulty of detection because they fly at low altitudes, ability to operate in swarms, and the fact that some use fibre-optic cables, making them extremely difficult to disrupt or disable through electronic warfare systems. The report’s authors assess that the challenges currently faced by the Israeli military are merely the beginning of a major shift in drone technology. They therefore urge Israel to begin preparing for the next generation of this threat. According to the researchers, the defence methods currently employed by Israeli security and military agencies are no longer adequate and will not be able to provide a solution in the future.