Hezbollah drones appear more effective, deadly, precise: Israeli media

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
19 Oct 2024 21:25
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The Jersusalem Post claims that the Lebanese Resistance is operating and launching drones from secret locations in northern Lebanon

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Israeli security forces secure a road near where the Israeli regime says a drone launched toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's house in Caesarea, occupied Palestine, Saturday, October 19, 2024. (AP)

The Jerusalem Post on Saturday published a report detailing Hezbollah's latest drone attack on "Israel", which targeted the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Caesarea.

The attack follows a series of increasingly sophisticated drone strikes, including one last week that killed four Israelis and injured sixty others at an Israeli Occupation Force (IOF) base near Binyamina.

According to the report, the growing precision and effectiveness of Hezbollah’s drone tactics have raised concerns among Israeli security officials.

"The drones appear to have become more effective, deadly, and precise," and there are many reasons for this, the report says.

Israeli theories on Hezbollah drones

One theory proposed by "Israel's" Ynet suggests that Hezbollah has begun coordinating drone strikes with heavy rocket barrages to overwhelm Israeli air interceptors, increasing the damage and casualties caused by debris from intercepted drones.

Second, the report notes that Hezbollah, along with Resistance groups in both Yemen and Iraq, possesses a wide range of drone types, including the Iranian-made Shahed 136.

Hezbollah is believed to have up to 2,000 drones in its arsenal, with the ability to launch long-range attacks exceeding 2,000 km.

The use of drones has allowed Hezbollah to conduct more precise and far-reaching strikes. The group has targeted IOF bases, Iron Dome batteries, and troops, and in 2022, it launched an attack on an Israeli gas platform.

Israelis suspect Shahed 101 used on Caesarea

Amid speculation on social media regarding the type of drone used in the Saturday operation, the Shahed 101 has been identified. The Alma Research and Education Center reports that the Shahed 101 drone is equipped with an 8kg warhead, has a range of 900 km, and flies at a speed of 120 km/h.

"Starting in July 2024, Hezbollah began launching Shahed 101 type suicide UAVs with electric motors toward Israel. Hezbollah has been using these UAVs in recent months due to the advantages they offer, as we have previously reported," the Alma Center notes.

Despite repeated Israeli strikes on Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, the Lebanese Resistance continues to operate and launch drone attacks from secret locations, the report says.

"Hezbollah will continue to use these systems to try to carry out what it sees as "quality" strikes, increasingly escalating against Israel," the report concludes.