Israeli officials are growing frustrated over Hezbollah's use of explosive drones, adding that entire region is watching. Three Israelis were killed in the past week as a result of these drones.
Amid a lack of an adequate response, forces in the field are deploying nets to “trap” the drones. Senior IDF officer: “The writing was on the wall. We should have prepared long ago.”
The missile hit a vehicle, with no injuries reported. A school bus was forced to stop en route, and the students searched for cover. Sirens sounded in some 17 communities in northern Israel.
According to reports from activists on board, Israeli troops, who they claimed arrived in speedboats, boarded some of the vessels and ordered passengers to gather at the front of the boat and sit down in an orderly manner. The flotilla, which includes dozens of boats, set sail from Barcelona about 10 days ago en route to the Strip.
Organized under the banner of humanitarian aid, the convoy – which includes the sister of Ireland's president – has been sanctioned by Israel's defense minister as a Hamas-linked operation.
The detonation of Hezbollah tunnels and the launch of drones toward IDF troops only prove the reality on the ground, as the US pressures Israel to avoid escalation.
The US president still wants Israel to limit itself on the Lebanon front in order to preserve the talks and give negotiations with Iran a chance. In contrast, the Israeli cabinet believes another military action in Tehran would complete the war’s objectives.
The IDF has identified Hezbollah's drone force buildup and admits that technological solutions have yet to mature into an operational capability. The military is working to find solutions and integrate its response to the threat, not only defensively but also offensively, in cooperation with foreign militaries.
Iron Dome, electronic warfare, lasers and even fighter jets and attack helicopters. The IDF has a range of solutions, but in practice, soldiers are being killed and wounded by drones launched by Hezbollah. Israeli officials admit: "We have to work faster."
After reports of a false alarm, the IDF acknowledged that Hezbollah had launched rockets at IDF troops in Lebanon. The Israeli Air Force struck the launchers. Alerts in northern Israel were activated after the interception of a drone from Lebanon that did not cross into Israeli territory.
