"We have not been this embarrassed in a long time. We are caught in a strategic trap. On the one hand, we cannot stop and withdraw from southern Lebanon, because that would be an admission of defeat. On the other hand, we cannot advance or take the initiative, because Trump is stopping us," a senior Israeli security official tells Israel Hayom.
The embarrassment is mainly linked to the Israel Defense Forces' helplessness over the drone issue, after an explosive drone killed Sgt. Liam Ben Hamo and wounded 15 other soldiers. Although the writing was on the wall, the IDF and the entire Israeli security establishment failed to find a solution to the threat for many months. Now, troops in the field are improvising solutions in the form of makeshift nets, but that is not enough.
Senior Israeli security officials say the entire region is watching Hezbollah's success in operating the drones, and there is no doubt that all of Israel's enemies will try to acquire them. It is not inconceivable that Hamas in Gaza will do everything in its power to obtain these cheap drones, and even in Judea and Samaria, drones could easily be smuggled in.
In the past week, three Israelis were killed by explosive drones: two soldiers and a civilian who was carrying out work for the Defense Ministry.
