Israel boosts its fight against Hezbollah using drones

Israel is boosting its fight against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon through the use of drones establishing what it describes as a drone “micro air force” as part of its evolving military operations, according to IDF instructors and commanders.

The IDF drone school, operating under the Northern Command, is conducting aerial missions over Lebanese territory, carrying out strikes and intelligence gathering while also working to counter Hezbollah’s expanding use of FPV drones in a rapidly changing battlefield environment, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ynet.

Israeli civilians have become increasingly familiar with alerts warning of “infiltration of hostile aerial vehicle,” as new aerial threats emerge from southern Lebanon. Behind the scenes, however, the IDF says its drone capabilities have undergone a rapid transformation.

“At any given moment, there are thousands of our systems above the enemy,” instructors at the drone school said, describing what they called continuous aerial coverage over operational areas.

The drone school was established in March 2024 in response to operational lessons drawn from the October 7 attacks, and is now operated largely by reserve teams. It has become central to integrating drone warfare into frontline combat units.

“We turned drone warfare into a profession,” said Lt. Col. R., commander of the Northern Command drone school. He said field units now operate what he described as a “micro air force,” handling tasks ranging from reconnaissance to target identification and strike coordination.

The IDF has been adapting to what it describes as a growing threat from Hezbollah FPV drones, including models guided by fiber-optic systems. Officers say they studied similar developments seen in the Russia-Ukraine war and have begun introducing defensive systems, though they acknowledge gaps remain.

There is no “complete solution yet,” said Lt. Col. R., adding that the military is still working to fully integrate detection and interception technologies into field operations.

Commanders emphasised that technology alone is not sufficient to counter drone threats. They stressed the importance of training, situational awareness and protective doctrine for soldiers in the field.

Units are instructed to assign “sky observer” tasked with monitoring airspace, while troops are trained to use camouflage, terrain and physical protection measures to reduce exposure to drone surveillance and attacks.

“This saves lives, unequivocally,” said Capt. N., adding that awareness and discipline remain critical components of defence against aerial threats.

The IDF says it continues to expand drone systems, test new technologies and deploy large numbers of aerial platforms over Lebanon, arguing that the evolving drone doctrine has become a central element of modern combat operations.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov