IDF believes Hamas possesses Hezbollah-style fiber-optic drones in Gaza

Israeli defense officials say the military still lacks a comprehensive interception solution for the threat.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The IDF believes Hamas possesses fiber-optic drones in the Gaza Strip similar to systems used by Hezbollah in northern Israel, presenting a challenge for Israeli forces because the aircraft are resistant to electronic warfare measures, a Southern Command officer told Walla.

Israeli defense officials say the military still lacks a comprehensive interception solution for the threat despite efforts undertaken since October 7 to improve defenses against the technology.

Discussions held within the Defense Ministry and the IDF examined a range of technological responses, but officials concluded that strict operational discipline by forces on the ground currently remains the most effective defensive measure.

According to the report, the military is also considering scenarios involving powered paragliders and large-scale rocket fire.

The Southern Command officer said, however, that there are currently no indications of an imminent escalation or immediate plans by Hamas to employ those capabilities against Israeli troops or civilians.

Fiber-optic drones differ from conventional unmanned aircraft because they do not rely on radio-frequency transmissions.

Instead, they remain linked to their operators through a fiber-optic cable that transmits commands and data directly.

Military officials say the technology enables uninterrupted high-definition video transmission, allows precise strikes against concealed targets and locations inside buildings, and is immune to electronic warfare systems.

According to Walla, Hamas has previously used the technology in combat.

During the opening phase of the October 7 attack, terrorists employed fiber-optic drones against Gaza Division positions.

Security officials determined that the drones were used to strike surveillance assets along the border in order to “blind” the area before terrorists crossed into Israel.

Investigations conducted by Israel’s defense establishment found that the systems were smuggled into the Gaza Strip with direct assistance from Iran and Hezbollah.

The findings also indicated that Hamas relied on training and operational knowledge supplied by the Lebanese organization.

The report noted that fiber-optic drones had already seen extensive use in conflicts in Syria and in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Israeli defense officials were aware of the evolving threat before the current war, but according to Walla, they were surprised by the extent and precision of Hamas’s use of the systems on October 7.