Putin’s drone playbook hits the Mid-East war; Israel’s shield starts cracking?

Fiber optic “unjammable” drones first pioneered during the Russia-Ukraine war are now appearing in the Middle East battlefield, with reports saying Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters have adopted similar tactics against Israel. Unlike radio-controlled drones, these tethered systems use fiber-optic cables, making them extremely difficult to jam or detect electronically. Reports claim Hezbollah’s drones have already killed several Israeli soldiers, exposing gaps in Israel’s anti-drone defences. Analysts say the drones resemble Russian battlefield models used in Ukraine, while Israel is now scrambling to test lasers, interceptor drones and net guns. The controversy has also revived questions over why the IDF reportedly declined earlier Ukrainian offers for counter-drone training assistance.