The Hezbollah drone attack near the Binyamina area on Sunday, which killed four soldiers and wounded more than 67 people, shows the growing threat posed by drones in modern warfare, the Jerusalem Post reported in an article. The drone used in this attack (photo below) is believed to be the Mirsad-1, a drone that Hezbollah has been developing for over two decades, and is based on Iranian designs.

Mirsad-1, as noted by experts from Israel’s Alma Research Center, is based on Iran’s Mohajer-2 model, with minor modifications adapted to Hezbollah’s military operations.

The drone can carry up to 40 kilograms of explosives, has a top speed of 370 kilometers per hour, and has an operational range of 120 kilometers. Hezbollah has used the Mirsad-1 for reconnaissance and offensive strikes since 2002, often using it to infiltrate Israeli airspace.

In the attack on Binyamina, Hezbollah launched multiple drones under the cover of a rocket barrage, a tactic aimed at overwhelming Israeli defense systems. One drone managed to evade detection and crash-land in the Binyamina area, marking a major breach in Israeli air defenses. According to a report by Defense Industry Daily, this is not the first time a Mirsad-1 drone has managed to penetrate Israeli defenses. A similar incident occurred earlier in the year, when Hezbollah drones flew over Israeli territory for several minutes before returning to Lebanon unharmed.

Strengthening the arsenal of drones

Hezbollah’s use of drones is part of a broader Iranian strategy to bolster the capabilities of its proxy forces. The US think tank Foundation for the Defense of Democracies explains that Hezbollah has increasingly incorporated drones into its arsenal to complement its existing missile and rocket capabilities. Drones like the Mirsad-1 allow Hezbollah to conduct precision strikes deep into Israeli territory, minimizing the risk to its forces. This tactic, which has been perfected through years of testing, is part of a broader effort by Iran to equip its proxies with advanced technologies.

The Mirsad-1 is just one of several drones in Hezbollah’s drone fleet. The organization has a variety of drones at its disposal, many of which are either Iranian-made or adapted from commercial models. These drones are used for various purposes such as surveillance, intelligence gathering and kamikaze missions. Reports from the Alma Research Center suggest Hezbollah has over 2,000 drones in its arsenal, with some estimates claiming the group has more advanced models such as the Mohajer-4 and Shahed drones.

The Binyamina attack raises questions about the effectiveness of Israel’s air defense systems in dealing with drone threats. While Iron Dome, Israel’s air defense system, is highly effective against missiles, it faces challenges in detecting and intercepting small, low-flying drones like the Mirsad-1. The Israeli military has launched an investigation into why no alarm was raised during the incident in Binyamina, despite Hezbollah’s increasing use of drones in its attacks.

This latest attack is just one part of an ongoing drone war between Israel and Hezbollah. Since the 1990s, Hezbollah has launched numerous drones into Israeli territory, with many incidents occurring during periods of intense conflict. In some cases, drones have been used for surveillance, while in others, they have been loaded with explosives to carry out suicide missions. According to defense experts, Hezbollah often launches drones in conjunction with rocket launches to overwhelm Israeli defenses and gather operational data for future strikes.

The four soldiers killed in the attack

The names of the four soldiers killed in the Hezbollah attack near Binyamina on Sunday have been announced by the IDF.

The IDF named Sergeant Omri Tamar, Sergeant Yosef Yeb, Sergeant Yoav Amon and Sergeant Alon Amitai as the four soldiers killed during the Hezbollah drone strike on Sunday afternoon.

All four soldiers were 19 years old and were training when they were killed at the base, the military said.

In addition to the four soldiers killed in the Hezbollah attack, the IDF reported that one soldier in the 8101st Battalion of the 3rd Brigade and one soldier in the 46th Battalion of the 401st Brigade were seriously wounded during fighting in southern Gaza on Sunday.

A total of 67 people were injured in the drone attack on Sunday, and in addition to the four soldiers killed, seven others were seriously injured.

Some of the injured victims of the attack were taken to Sheba Medical Center.

The Jerusalem Post reported on Sunday that the drone was launched from Lebanon and a missile barrage was used to penetrate Israeli defenses.

The drone that hit the base was one of two launched by Hezbollah. The other was shot down over the sea.