Inexpensive fiber-optic drones are challenging Israel's high-tech defenses, shifting the military balance in the Middle East.

Inexpensive fiber-optic drones are challenging Israel’s high-tech defenses, shifting the military balance in the Middle East.

A recent video showing an explosive-laden drone striking an Israeli Iron Dome battery couldn’t have been more symbolic: Israel’s famous air-defense system, which cost billions of euros, looked powerless against a small aircraft that cost a few hundred euros.

While the video’s authenticity has not yet been verified, experts believe it is genuine.

The footage was published about a week ago by Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based pro-Iranian militia, which Germany, the US and several Sunni Arab states have classified as a terrorist organization.

The drone strike, if genuine, would mark propaganda victory for Hezbollah and reveal a significant vulnerability in Israel’s military capabilities.

  • ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    417·
    15 hours ago

    Let’s hope they keep this up and force Israel to back the fuck off.

    I don’t see the same connection here that you do. A failure of Israel’s defensive weapons would require them to go on the offensive. The status quo from before the October 7 attacks was tolerable to Israel because they could shoot down incoming threats but if they no longer can, they must neutralize the ability of their enemies to launch those threats.

    • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      7·
      8 hours ago

      A failure of Israel’s defensive weapons would require them to go on the offensive.

      According to themselves, a day ending in y would require them to go on the offensive.

      This is all a conflict of choice for them and the US and, if damage to the dome has any effect on them (which it probably won’t, since they’re so far gone down the colonialism genocide spiral), it would be to make them more cautious due to their own people being more vulnerable to consequences of their state terrorism.

    • NoForwadSlashS@piefed.socialEnglish
      29·
      14 hours ago

      It’s impressive that it’s not already considered being “on the offensive” to invade and bomb multiple neighbouring countries, as well as actions like boarding boats in international waters and imprisoning the occupants.

      • ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        412·
        12 hours ago

        I didn’t say that Israel is not on the offensive right now - it is. My point is that if the Iron Dome system is indeed compromised, that’s going to put pressure on Israel to stay on the offensive rather than to back down.