TEL AVIV, Israel — In a recent incident, Israel experienced one of its most significant mass casualty events of the ongoing war, not from an assault of ballistic missiles or extensive rocket fire from groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, but from a single drone strike. The drone, carrying explosives, managed to evade the sophisticated Israeli air defense system, crashing into a mess hall within a military training base, resulting in the deaths of four soldiers and injuries to dozens more.
This event highlights the growing capabilities of Hezbollah’s drone arsenal and underscores Israel’s difficulties in intercepting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can originate from distant locations, including Yemen, Iraq, and Iran. Over the years, Israel has invested in a comprehensive air defense structure designed to protect against various missile threats. However, experts warn that these defenses are not foolproof. While the system has successfully intercepted numerous drones, others have breached Israeli airspace, leading to deadly outcomes.
On the evening of the strike, reports surfaced regarding a mass casualty incident roughly 65 kilometers (40 miles) away from the Lebanese border. The drone struck while troops were dining, with initial reports indicating that it killed four soldiers and injured 67 individuals. Moments earlier, air raid sirens had been activated in northern Israel, yet no alerts were sounded at the base where the soldiers were present. This absence of warning suggested that the drone might have bypassed Israel’s detection systems.
An Israeli security official confirmed ongoing investigations into the incident, particularly focusing on how the drone managed to infiltrate the defenses. Two drones reportedly entered Israeli airspace simultaneously, with one being shot down, but the other successfully reaching its intended target. Hezbollah claims this assault was a direct retaliation for prior Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, stating that the drone could evade detection from Israeli radar and that they strategically launched multiple missile and drone assaults simultaneously to overwhelm air defenses.
This incident marks the second lethal drone attack within two weeks, with a prior strike from a drone launched in Iraq resulting in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and injuries to approximately 20 others. Additionally, a Hezbollah drone crashed into a nursing home in central Israel during a significant Jewish holiday, causing damage but no reported casualties.
“We have already faced six fatalities from drone strikes in the last ten days, which is excessive,” noted Ran Kochav, a former head of Israel’s aerial defense command. He emphasized that drones have emerged as a considerable threat during the ongoing conflict.
UAVs possess characteristics that make them more difficult to detect compared to traditional missiles and rockets. Being operated remotely, drones can conduct surveillance and engage targets with greater stealth. While Israel has developed advanced drone capabilities, capable of reaching targets in Iran, its adversaries have successfully launched drones that have caught Israel off-guard on several occasions, often with tragic results. One notable incident this year involved a drone from Yemen traveling about 270 kilometers (160 miles) to strike a downtown Tel Aviv building, resulting in one fatality.
The Israeli security official indicated that several factors contribute to the challenges of detecting drones. Their slower flight speed and construction from plastic materials result in a reduced thermal signature, making them less detectable than larger rockets. Drones can also adopt non-linear flight paths, approach from various angles, and fly at lower altitudes, further complicating tracking efforts. Due to their smaller size, they can even be mistaken for birds, allowing them to evade detection temporarily.
Kochav remarked that Israel has primarily focused on enhancing its defenses against rocketry and missiles, which led to drones not being prioritized until recently. This oversight has resulted in diminished capabilities to detect and counter UAVs amidst ongoing hostilities.
Hezbollah’s drone program has its roots in the post-2000 era, after Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The group has been utilizing Iranian-made drones and has since developed over the years, with heavy backing from Iranian support. Analysts indicate that Hezbollah’s drone operations pose a strategic challenge, with reports estimating that they have launched around 1,500 drones for surveillance and attacks since the current conflict escalated in October 2023.
The drones are equipped with capabilities to strike civilian sites and typically carry payloads of around 10 kilograms (22 lbs) of explosives. In a notable incident, Hezbollah reportedly deployed a drone armed with an anti-tank missile earlier this year, marking a significant escalation in their UAV capabilities.
Additionally, Hezbollah has targeted Israel’s air defense systems directly, employing drones to strike the very batteries intended for their interception. For instance, they claimed responsibility for downing an Israeli Sky Dew observation balloon earlier this year using an explosive drone.
In response to the recent drone attacks, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited the impacted training camp and emphasized a commitment to learn from these incidents. He noted that Israel is concentrating efforts on developing more effective countermeasures against drone threats, although he did not provide specific details on these strategies.
Kochav pointed out that there are various methods that might be employed against drone attacks, such as improving detection capabilities through new radar technologies, using acoustic sensors, and deploying fighter jets or helicopters for interception. Israel could also explore electronic warfare measures to disrupt the operations of hostile drones. He remarked on the regrettable consequences of neglecting UAVs in defense planning, stating, “Our focus was misaligned, and the outcomes are regrettable.”