this post was submitted on 24 May 2026
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Inexpensive fiber-optic drones are challenging Israel's high-tech defenses, shifting the military balance in the Middle East.

A recent video showing an explosive-laden drone striking an Israeli Iron Dome battery couldn't have been more symbolic: Israel's famous air-defense system, which cost billions of euros, looked powerless against a small aircraft that cost a few hundred euros.

While the video's authenticity has not yet been verified, experts believe it is genuine.

The footage was published about a week ago by Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based pro-Iranian militia, which Germany, the US and several Sunni Arab states have classified as a terrorist organization.

The drone strike, if genuine, would mark propaganda victory for Hezbollah and reveal a significant vulnerability in Israel's military capabilities.

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[–] jaxxed@lemmy.world 7 points 3 hours ago

It seems that Iron Dome,like the Patriot, are desgned for the last war, not the current war. Asymmetric deployment of volumes of small&cheap units will overload these systems, or at least cost your opponent too much.

Even aganst peer weapons thay are onlyildly successful. In Ukraine the patriots have intercepted Kinzals,bit will never be able, nor cost effective against Oreshniks (as the split too early)

[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 3 points 6 hours ago

trump's first thought..."They shoulda went widda gold dome".

[–] sen@lemmy.zip 40 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Oh no, do you hear that Israel? The faint buzzing off in the distance? That's the sound consequences make when they're getting closer.

[–] iocase@lemmy.zip 8 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (1 children)

Oh my god I get to watch a smiting with my own eyes. The cycle is nearly complete!

  1. God has rules

  2. God's rules have loopholes

  3. God gets angry

  4. Get smote, nerd!

  5. Ok, new rules!

  6. Return to step 1.

They will literally do it until the heat death of the universe or until they're wiped out.

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 5 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

That's the problem with religion.

In theory it's quite good most religions tell you to be nice and kind to each other, the problem is if you break those rules nothing actually happens to you, no God comes down from the heavens and strikes you down with righteous lightning. In fact not only does nothing happen to you but the establishment set up to promote the religion now protects you from the consequences of you breaking the religions own rules.

Might as well just become an investment banker, at least they don't pretend to have rules.

[–] markko@lemmy.world 7 points 9 hours ago

That's a problem with religion lol

[–] disorderly@lemmy.world 13 points 12 hours ago (3 children)

I've been wondering about this for a while, but what does it cost to maintain the iron dome when your batteries are depleted and the missiles are on backorder? It's not like literally anyone else is fielding this equipment, so what happens when the only customer suddenly needs a tall order every week?

Under normal economic conditions, a tamir missile costs about $80k, and a shahed drone costs about $30k (and dropping). These are not normal conditions, and I expect that Israel is going to have spotty coverage in the coming years.

The worst part is that I'm sure Netanyahu and his ilk have priced all this in and agreed that the casualties and long-term dependence on foreign funding and ordnance is a fair trade for the additional territory. I really hope the Israeli people disagree.

[–] Evotech@lemmy.world 4 points 7 hours ago

Thats what America a is there for

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

what does it cost to maintain the iron dome when your batteries are depleted and the missiles are on backorder?

Iron Dome is specifically for short range rockets and mortars. David’s Sling is intended to defend against ballistic missiles like those used by Iran. The Arrow System is intended to counter ICBMs as part of a constellation of US based anti-ballistic systems. I'm not sure that last one has been used in more than test shots

[–] ravenaspiring@sh.itjust.works 5 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (1 children)

I think that's the point when they take it to the 'negotiating table' and try to keep what they've taken.

Having said that Israel has a large multilayered antiair defense that isn't just iron dome. They have SPYDER, helos with the APKWS, and it's own CIWS systems, plus they are rushing SMASH Hopper (AI driven improvised gun mount). Which isn't to say your point is wrong, they will run out.

Also these last several years has turn people and their political leaders off Israel, which I mention as it just compounds the economics of this. Israel needs a functioning economy and foreign aid to sustain it, but has been turning off it's partners. Although yes, the US seems to be an exception in this, mostly from a leader stand point.

[–] disorderly@lemmy.world 5 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

They're certainly making an impressive go of it, but I don't see anything in their arsenal that's going to survive sustained attacks.

SPYDER is so comically expensive that resisting long range drones will bankrupt the country, and automated turrets, while much better from a price per kill perspective, simply don't have the range of other solutions (hundreds of meters at best rather than 40km of SPYDER or 5km of iron dome).

A better solution for the drones in the OP might be the new Rheinmetall platforms with airburst ammunition, but I'm not sure Israel can procure those in the numbers necessary to cover their defenses or infrastructure.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 4 points 6 hours ago

Rheinmetall platforms with airburst ammunition

There's a reason you might not want to be firing shrapnel explosives over the heads of your own citizens.

But hey, it's Israel. Maybe they don't give a shit.

[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 25 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

You mean America's Iron Dome.

[–] Photonic@lemmy.world 104 points 20 hours ago (3 children)

How arrogant the Israeli leadership was to think it couldn’t happen to them when it’s been happening on the Ukrainian battlefield for a few years now. With Iranian-made drones no less.

[–] Grandwolf319@sh.itjust.works 47 points 18 hours ago (6 children)

Seriously, given how interconnected all these conflicts are, I’m convinced we are in WWIII,

No one said it has to have more deaths than the last one to be considered a world war

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago

I’m convinced we are in WWIII

I've heard people speculate that it's more like WW5 or 6, depending on how you want to count global conflicts between superpowers.

But from the US perspective, we're a far cry from the kind of Total War we engaged in during the 40s.

This war only feels existential if you're on the receiving end.

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 12 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

It probably already has, tbh.

[–] sepi@piefed.social 13 points 17 hours ago (7 children)

2.6 million russian kia, more wounded - Russian economists in russian economic forums in public made a claim of 600k dead russians per year of war

[–] Mihies@programming.dev 11 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

That's exaggerated. While real numbers are not known, Ukraine reports around 1,000 casualties per day but only around third or less of that are dead, others are injured.

[–] sepi@piefed.social 1 points 3 hours ago

Ukrainians have counted around 1.4 mill - but Ukrainians don't have precise numbers on the russians killed by their own commanders for refusing to fight or not paying enough money to their commanders. The 2.4 mill number comes from russian economists in public russian economic forums this year.

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[–] mrdown@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 15 hours ago

After getting away with genocide in Gaza and the assadination of Nassrallah, they got arrogant and thought Hizbollah was not for

[–] Aqarius@lemmy.world 4 points 13 hours ago

Hell, it happened to Armenia, with Israeli-made drones.

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 56 points 19 hours ago (18 children)

The footage was published about a week ago by Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based pro-Iranian militia, which Germany, the US and several Sunni Arab states have classified as a terrorist organization.

And where's the parenthetical comma for Israel?

Israel, the arpartheid Jewish ethnostate, has been globally condemned for its violation of human rights and massive bombings with civilian casualties, is currently invading Lebannon in an effort to expand its territory.

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[–] itsjustachairmary@lemmy.world 16 points 19 hours ago (9 children)

I did see footage of a drone attacking an Iron Dome site. Looked legit for what it's worth. Literally flew right up to it. Unfortunately no footage of the aftermath from what I saw. Must have been quite the explosion though. Anyway, this is hopeful news. Let's hope they keep this up and force Israel to back the fuck off.

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