Hezbollah has introduced a new weapon in its ongoing conflict with Israel: small drones controlled via fiber-optic cables as thin as dental floss, which are immune to electronic jamming. These drones, widely used in the Ukraine war, are small, difficult to track, and potentially lethal.
How Fiber-Optic Drones Work
Unlike conventional drones that rely on radio signals, fiber-optic drones are connected to an operator through a thin cable, making them impervious to electronic jamming. Jamming typically forces drones to crash or return to base, but this method bypasses such countermeasures. However, they are not foolproof: wind or other drones can tangle the cables. Robert Tollast, a drone expert at the Royal United Services Institute in London, noted that in skilled hands, these drones are "absolutely deadly" as they can fly low and approach targets stealthily.
Challenges for Defenders
Experts say militaries must either intercept these drones—difficult due to their size and short flight paths—or find ways to cut the nearly invisible cables. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon, has primarily used them against Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon and border towns.
Israel's Response
An Israeli military official, speaking anonymously, stated that fiber-optic drones are a relatively new threat. Hezbollah turned to them after Israeli air defenses successfully countered larger rockets and missiles. Israel believes the drones are locally made and easy to produce, requiring off-the-shelf components, explosives, and transparent wire. The official called them the biggest threat to troops in Lebanon, but said Israel is developing technological solutions. Meanwhile, ground measures include adding nets and cages to military vehicles.
Ran Kochav, former head of Israeli air defense command, admitted Israel is struggling against these drones. "They fly very low, very fast, and are very small, making detection and tracking extremely difficult," he said. He criticized Israel for not prioritizing drone defenses, despite observing fiber-optic drone advances in Ukraine.
Ukraine War Context
In Ukraine, both Russia and Ukraine use fiber-optic drones extensively, with cables extending up to 31 miles (50 kilometers). Front-line towns are often coated with cable strands resembling spiderwebs. The technology was developed to counter electronic jamming, though it limits range compared to radio-controlled or AI-navigated drones.
Hezbollah's Propaganda Videos
Hezbollah has released videos of drone attacks on social media and Al-Manar TV. One attack killed an Israeli soldier and wounded six others; another killed an Israeli civilian contractor. The group announced it began using fiber-optic drones in the current fighting that started March 2. Israel also uses drones for surveillance and strikes, but not necessarily with fiber optics.
Civilian Impact
Zevik Glidai, a 78-year-old math teacher in Kiryat Shmona, discovered a crashed drone in his backyard on April 13, surrounded by coils of fiber-optic cable. The drone carried nearly 2 kilograms of explosives that failed to detonate. "We are very worried because there's no way to detect or shoot them down," he said. He noted the bomb squad called it a miracle the explosives didn't go off.
