Security establishment fears use of explosive drones from within Israel

The Israeli security establishment is detecting a rise in the willingness and capability of terrorist organizations to operate explosive drones from within Israeli cities, including drones with fiber optics. A security official warned that buying a drone and attaching explosives is almost as easy as kicking a ball, and that there is still no real operational solution to the threat. Defense Minister Israel Katz held a discussion on the matter.

The Israeli security establishment fears that terrorist organizations will use explosive drones from within Israeli territory, as reported on Channel 12's main edition. According to the report, there is concern that explosive drones, including those equipped with fiber optics, will be operated from Israeli cities and directed at a variety of targets. A security official described the ease of purchase and operation: "Buying a drone and putting explosives on it is almost as easy as kicking a ball." In discussions within the security establishment, including one led by Defense Minister Israel Katz, it emerged that there is currently no real operational solution to the threat. At the end of May, a technological measure against drones was reported to have entered experimental use in Lebanon, and last month it was published that Israel considered a comprehensive ban on the use of drones in the country's skies due to fears that Iran would use them in an attack. The explanation for the decision is twofold: the lack of a technological solution, and the concern that in the event of escalation, the use of drones by Iran, Hezbollah, and other actors would increase, not necessarily outside Israel's borders.