Hezbollah’s New Drone Tricks: A Fandango with the Iron Dome
As Jimmy Carr might say, “Let’s kick off this schadenfreude-filled joyride!” Hezbollah, that cheeky little group from Lebanon, seems to have taken a page out of a video game manual—drones, rocketry, and a sprinkle of good old-fashioned bravado. Who knew that all it would take for them to flex their muscles against one of the most powerful armies in the Middle East was a drone attack on October 13, 2024? They’ve certainly rolled the dice and, shockingly, scored a hit—or four—on the Israeli military!
In a tragic irony, they’ve become orphans of war, with leader Hassan Nasrallah absent from the front lines, presumably watching the scuffle from a comfy armchair—perhaps even sipping a nice cup of tea. The drone attack, dubbed “unprecedented” by the experts (and by “unprecedented,” they mean “they’ve never hit quite this many soldiers at once”), has set off alarm bells in Tel Aviv. Four Israeli soldiers were killed and over sixty injured. Ouch! And I thought my last Tinder date was rough!
The Great Drone Debate
Now, let’s pause for a moment: is it the Iranian Ababil-T drone, or is it the Sayyad 107? If they had a voting system for drones, it could easily be the next hit reality show! In the world of military might, those are some fancy gadgets. Imagine having a range of 120 kilometers and changing altitudes more frequently than a cat on catnip… very tricky to track indeed! Hezbollah’s little flying nuisance is surely busy zooming around while Israeli forces are scrambling. It’s like watching a dog chase its own tail—futile but entertaining!
Surprise! It’s Hezbollah!
Now let’s get serious—or not! Pierre Razoux, a geopolitical maverick, claims Hezbollah has been capable of “occasionally surprising Israel.” Well, isn’t that just darling? It’s like being surprised by a magician’s assistant disappearing right before your eyes—who needs an assistant when you have drones that occasionally roofie the Israeli radar systems with their “low and complex trajectories”? The audacity! They even claimed to have fired dozens of missiles while simultaneously unleashing drones—a true multitasking feat! Take note, mothers everywhere!
Israel’s Iron Dome: The Not-So-Unbeatable Force
Of course, Israel isn’t just a sitting duck on this pond. The Iron Dome, their pride and joy, has intercepted thousands of rockets since its inception. But even this high-tech marvel isn’t foolproof. They’ve realized that, despite their heavy artillery and complex defense systems, drones can waltz through like they’re on a walk in the park—except, of course, the park is filled with very angry people. Can someone cue the dramatic music please?
The Imbalance of Power
Let’s talk balance of power, shall we? Alexandre Vautravers points out, “The conventional balance of power is very favorable to Israel.” This isn’t exactly a mystery, folks! But as much as the power dynamic sways in favor of the Israelis, it seems Hezbollah is still trying to play catch-up, mainly shooting for psychological victories. Because everyone knows that nothing says “I’m tough” like a well-timed drone attack, right? Makes about as much sense as a cat trying to bark!
A Counterproductive Conundrum
So what’s the takeaway? Jean-Loup Samaan says Hezbollah’s frolicsome attacks might be “psychologically” beneficial, but they’re also “counterproductive.” Talk about a plot twist! They might rake in some short-term terror points, but in the long run? Expect the West to encore with supplies and support for Israel, making it even harder for Hezbollah to play their game. It’s like throwing a party and the cops showing up—never ends well!
In the end, Hezbollah’s bravado may earn some admiration among a niche audience, but they’re still playing against the odds. So, let’s watch and see if they can dodge the incoming thunder from the Israeli side! And to think some people say the Middle East isn’t entertaining!
Can a militia rival the Middle East’s most powerful army? Orphaned by its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, weakened by targeted eliminations and massive Israeli bombings, Lebanese Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an unprecedented attack on October 13.
It is the deadliest he has committed since the start of the escalation between him and Israel, almost a month ago.
Carried out by a drone against a military base in Binyamina, in northern Israel, the strike killed four soldiers and injured more than 60.
A “painful” attack, said the Israeli chief of staff, General Herzi Halevi.
According to Nicholas Blanford, researcher at the Atlantic Council contacted by The Orient By Daythe drone, which had entered Israel by sea, followed for a time by the Israeli army, finally disappeared from its radars.
Photo taken from an Israeli position showing a Hezbollah drone above northern Israel, August 25, 2024. © Jalaa Marey, AFP
It is not yet clear whether Hezbollah used the Iranian Ababil-T drone or the Sayyad 107, specifies the same source.
With a range of 120 kilometers, the first reaches a maximum speed of 370 kilometers per hour. The Sayyad 107 can be programmed to “frequently change altitude and direction, which makes its detection and tracking difficult”, again according to sources cited by the Lebanese daily.
Hezbollah capable of “surprising” Israel ?
Equipped with this type of device, “Hezbollah is still capable of occasionally surprising Israel”, comments Pierre Razoux, academic and geopolitical director of the Mediterranean Foundation for Strategic Studies, on RFI.
The party of God plays a “diversionary effect”, he continues: firing salvos of conventional rockets (stopped by the Iron Dome), while infiltrating “from below” a few drones with very low and complex trajectories.
Also read: THAAD, the American anti-missile system which will boost Israeli defense against Iran
In a statement, Hezbollah said on Sunday, October 13, that it had fired dozens of missiles at targets in the cities of Nahariya and Acre, while simultaneously sending drones to different areas, “with the aim of” distracting the security systems. Israeli air defense.
According to Jewish state media, Israel’s “Iron Dome” air defense system has intercepted thousands of rockets since it was commissioned in 2011, providing essential protection in times of war.
However, “Israel realizes that it is not completely invulnerable, and that, despite the presence of extremely sophisticated anti-missile systems, this does not prevent drones from passing through,” concludes Pierre Razoux.
A conventional balance of power “very favorable to Israel”
“Drones practically did not exist ten years ago,” notes Alexandre Vautravers, editor-in-chief of the Swiss Military Review and scientific director at the Center for Military History and Prospects (CHPM).
“But today, Hezbollah and the Houthis receive from their suppliers (Iranians, Editor’s note) some of the most modern equipment or weapons available,” he notes.
It would be wrong to overestimate the military impact of drones, however, assure the two experts contacted by France 24.
“The conventional balance of power is very favorable to Israel, and in the context of a classic confrontation, it is impossible to reach Israel effectively,” says Alexandre Vautravers.
Since October 8, 2024, Lebanese Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis and pro-Iranian Iraqi militias have repeatedly sent drones towards Israel. But without inflicting significant damage. The death of two Israeli soldiers on October 4 is among the deadliest results of these strikes.
“Counterproductive” attacks ?
“These attacks will probably continue,” analyzes Jean-Loup Samaan, associate Middle East expert at the Institut Montaigne. Because, even if they cannot change the balance of forces on the battlefield, Hezbollah is banking on a “psychological gain”: “terrorizing” the Israeli population.
In the Lebanese border region, nearly 70,000 Israelis fled the hostilities that broke out with Hezbollah after October 7, 2023. Enabling their safe return is one of the main objectives put forward by Benjamin Netanyahu in his war against Hezbollah .
The Shiite movement’s attacks are absolutely “counterproductive”, judges Alexandre Vautravers. Because on the one hand, Israel’s partners like the United States will provide it with the means to strengthen its defense. On the other hand, the expert concludes, these drone attacks “further unite the Israeli population, and provide its army with a pretext to intervene more” on Lebanese soil.
