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Binyamina, Israel—In a significant escalation of hostilities, Hezbollah’s drone strike near Binyamina on Sunday resulted in 67 injuries, raising alarms over the increasing role of drones in contemporary conflict.
The drone involved, identified as the Mirsad-1, marks a growing threat from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are increasingly becoming a staple in modern warfare tactics.
The Mirsad-1 drone, based on Iran’s Mohajer-2 design and adapted for Hezbollah’s needs, has been a part of the group’s arsenal for over 20 years.
According to experts from the Alma Research Center, this drone can carry payloads of up to 40 kilograms of explosives, achieve speeds of 370 kilometers per hour, and has an operational range of 120 kilometers.
Since 2002, Hezbollah has employed the Mirsad-1 for both reconnaissance and offensive operations, often infiltrating Israeli airspace undetected.
In the Binyamina incident, Hezbollah deployed multiple drones simultaneously, using a rocket barrage as a distraction.
This tactic aimed to overwhelm Israeli defense systems, with one drone successfully evading detection and crashing in the Binyamina area—a serious breach of Israeli air defenses.
Defense Industry Daily reports that this is not an isolated event; a similar occurrence happened earlier this year when Hezbollah drones flew over Israeli territory for an extended period before returning to Lebanon unharmed.
The growing sophistication of Hezbollah’s drone capabilities is part of a larger Iranian strategy to enhance the operational strength of its proxy forces.
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies notes that Hezbollah is integrating drones into its existing missile and rocket systems, enabling precise strikes deep within Israeli territory while reducing the risk to its operatives.
This evolving tactic underscores Iran’s commitment to arming its proxies with advanced technologies and military capabilities.
Hezbollah’s drone fleet includes a range of UAVs, many sourced from Iran or modified commercial models.
Reports suggest that the group possesses over 2,000 drones, with advanced models such as the Mohajer-4 and Shahed drones enhancing its operational capabilities.
These drones serve multiple purposes, including intelligence gathering, surveillance, and carrying out suicide missions.
The Binyamina attack has ignited concerns regarding the effectiveness of Israel’s air defense systems, particularly its renowned Iron Dome, which excels at intercepting incoming rockets but has shown vulnerabilities against small, low-flying drones like the Mirsad-1.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have initiated an investigation to understand why no alarms were triggered during the Binyamina attack, despite the increased use of drones in recent Hezbollah offensives.
This incident is the latest in a protracted drone conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Since the 1990s, the Lebanese militant group has frequently launched drones into Israeli airspace, often synchronizing these operations with rocket fire to saturate Israel’s defensive capabilities and collect valuable intelligence for future engagements.
As the dynamics of warfare evolve, the implications of Hezbollah’s drone capabilities pose a significant challenge for Israeli defense mechanisms, raising questions about how nations can adapt to and counter this emerging threat in modern conflict.