WSJ: Hezbollah’s FPV Drones Are Main Cause of Israeli Soldier Deaths in Lebanon

Hezbollah’s kamikaze drones have become the leading cause of Israeli military casualties in Lebanon, surpassing threats such as anti-tank missiles.

Attack drones were responsible for the deaths of 7 out of 11 Israeli soldiers who have been killed in combat since early April, reports The Wall Street Journal. Israeli officials acknowledge that this weapon has become a key security challenge for ground forces.

Videos that the group shares on social media show precision strikes on the fuel tanks of Israeli vehicles, aimed at causing maximum destruction and detonation. Previously, operators flew only during daylight hours, but recently they have shifted to round-the-clock attacks.

About 80% of Hezbollah’s drones are controlled via fiber-optic cables, making them completely immune to electronic warfare measures. Currently, the Israeli military is attempting to counter the threat by physically eliminating operators, depots, and UAV launch sites in southern Lebanon, though only a few pilots have been neutralized so far.

Dmytro Putiata, a former officer of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, noted that the Israeli military is repeating the mistakes of 2022 by concentrating equipment at unprotected sites, leaving artillery shells out in the open, and installing ineffective camouflage nets. Israeli soldiers in Lebanon themselves confirm that they did not receive proper training on countering nighttime UAV raids.

Israeli citizens and government officials are demanding that the country’s leadership take tougher action against Hezbollah and lift US restrictions that have held back strikes on Beirut. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir openly called on the prime minister to appeal to President Donald Trump to revise the terms of the conflict resolution.

In response to the criticism, Netanyahu announced an intensification of military operations in Lebanon and the deployment of significant ground forces to capture strategic high ground. The prime minister emphasized that the army is stepping up efforts to implement innovative solutions against drones.