Hunted by Drones It Should Have Seen Coming, Israel Now Sees Its Lebanon Strategy at Risk

The IDF Is Now Scrambling to Find Technological and Tactical Solutions to the Growing Hezbollah Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Threat

First-person view (FPV) drones launched by Hezbollah found their way through to Israeli troops again and again last week. Image: Combat FPV drone with radio control for modern warfare in Ukraine.

Israel has a major problem on its hands in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has made an unmistakable leap in its drone capabilities and tactics in recent weeks, and is using explosive-laden unmanned aerial vehicles to deadly effect against IDF troops in southern Lebanon. Whatever countermeasures Israel has are clearly insufficient.

First-person view, or FPV, drones launched by Hezbollah found their way through to Israeli troops again and again on Thursday. Two UAV strikes on IDF positions in southern Lebanon left one soldier dead and three wounded. An attack earlier in the day wounded 12 troops on the Lebanon-Israel border.

The attacks have continued since, though with less success, but it seems a matter of time until luck runs out. On Sunday, several Hezbollah drones exploded near IDF troops, but did not cause injuries.

Israel should have seen the threat coming.

Published originally on May 4, 2026.

Read the full article at the Times of Israel.

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Lazar Berman

Lazar Berman is the diplomatic correspondent at the Times of Israel, where he also covers Christian Affairs. He holds an M.A. in Security Studies from Georgetown University and taught at Salahuddin University in Iraqi Kurdistan. Berman is a reserve captain in the IDF’s Commando Brigade and served in a Bedouin unit during his active service.