Middle East, Hezbollah makes Israel tremble with its army of drones –

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have reached new levels in recent days, with a significant increase in drone attacks by the Lebanese militant group. Hezbollah has stepped up its operations, launching numerous “suicide drones” against Israeli military installations in the north of the country, according to sources close to the organization. Among the main targets are the Golani Brigade command and the headquarters of the Egoz 621 unit, both located in the Shraga military base, near the city of Acre. The number of alerts caused by these unmanned aircraft, loaded with explosives, has, Il Giornale reports, increased dramatically, with 13 reports since last week alone and over fifty in the space of just 20 minutes yesterday evening, in the northern Galilee region. This represents a dangerous escalation compared to the attacks recorded in previous months, when 364 drones were launched by Hezbollah towards Israel from October 7 to the end of July. According to estimates, Hezbollah’s drone fleet could number around 2,500 units, including attack and reconnaissance models.

The effectiveness of these drones has been highlighted by recent successes in hitting sensitive targets, such as an Israeli airship equipped with advanced sensors, essential for activating air defenses, and in flying over strategic cities such as Haifa. According to a report by the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, these attacks demonstrate a significant improvement in Hezbollah’s ability to penetrate Israeli defenses, a concern shared by international analysts. Fabian Hinz, an expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, specified that the threat posed by these drones has not been addressed with due seriousness. The technology used by Hezbollah is clearly of Iranian origin, with the use of suicide drones such as the Shahed 101, capable of carrying 10 kilos of explosives for a range of 900 kilometers, and the Samad 3, which can fly up to 2,000 kilometers at an altitude of 3,000 meters. Other models, such as the Ababil-T, have already been used in conflicts such as Syria, carrying up to 40 kilograms of explosives. However, they are not limited to hitting only Israeli targets: a suicide drone launched by Hezbollah’s allies recently exploded at an American base in Kharab al Jir, demonstrating the global scope of this threat.

Hezbollah also has small Chinese drones, which cost a few hundred dollars and are used for reconnaissance missions or to drop explosive devices. The larger drones, however, are not only designed for kamikaze missions, but are also capable of launching Russian-made missiles. The local production of drones in Lebanon, announced by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in 2022, outlines the growing technological potential of the group, probably supported by Iran. This development has prompted the Mossad to step up operations against technicians and commanders of Hezbollah drone units, who have already been targeted in the past, such as Tunisian engineer Mohammed al-Zawari, considered one of the masterminds behind the development of Hezbollah drones. In Lebanon, at least two runways for these aircraft have been identified, located in Hezbollah strongholds in the Beqaa Valley and near Baalbek. The threat posed by Hezbollah is not limited to the military aspect: drones, even when intercepted, create panic among the Israeli civilian population, forcing people to take refuge in bunkers. Furthermore, the ability of these aircraft to gather information and conduct surveillance operations contributes to the “psychological warfare” that Hezbollah is waging against Israel, with repercussions that go far beyond the battlefield.