IDF using robots to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon

Ground robots have been used during maneuvers in the area, as well as in the Gaza Strip, alongside unmanned aerial vehicles.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The IDF said it is deploying robotic systems in combat operations against Hezbollah in Bint Jbail, Lebanon, as it works to dismantle militant infrastructure and reduce risks to troops.

According to the military, the use of robotics is aimed at increasing operational efficiency while minimizing casualties as forces operate in southern Lebanon.

Ground robots have been used during maneuvers in the area, as well as in the Gaza Strip, alongside unmanned aerial vehicles.

The systems are being used for tasks such as detonating booby-trapped structures and scanning hazardous zones, allowing forces to neutralize threats without exposing soldiers to danger.

The technology is also being applied in complex environments, including dense urban areas, tunnel networks, and locations that are difficult to access.

Yahalom, the commando unit of the IDF Combat Engineering Corps, has deployed robots inside Hezbollah tunnels and other confined spaces where traditional operations pose elevated risks.

The integration of robotics is also intended to address manpower demands, with military planners incorporating automated systems into a broader operational framework.

Israeli defense officials have described the expanded use of such systems as part of a wider shift toward advanced battlefield technologies.

Col. (ret.) Yaron Sarig, head of the AI and Autonomy Program Executive Office of MAFAT within the Defense Ministry, said the Israel-Hamas War in 2023-2025 marked a turning point in the role of robotics in warfare.

Although remotely controlled drones and similar systems had been in use previously, Sarig said robotic platforms played a central role in operations in Gaza, including over long operational distances.

He made the remarks at the International Defense Tech Summit sponsored by the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development and Tel Aviv University’s Yuval Ne’eman Science, Technology and Security Workshop.

The IDF’s multi-year “Hoshen” plan for 2026–2030 places robotics, artificial intelligence, and space capabilities at the center of preparations for multi-front conflict, according to the military.