Rising Hamas Drone Activity Sparks Concern Among IDF Reservists
There has been a recent uptick in drone usage by Hamas within Gaza, the military said on Thursday (5th) after an IDF soldier was moderately wounded and another lightly wounded in the northern Gaza Strip in a drone attack.
A Hamas terrorist cell operated a drone over IDF forces in the area and dropped a grenade on a unit positioned near buildings. The soldiers were evacuated to the hospital, and their families were notified.
Reservist soldiers reported the rise in the drone threats in recent weeks, with Hamas using drones to gather intelligence on IDF movements and to carry out attacks.
“The working assumption is that they are gathering intelligence on us 24/7 using remote observation posts, binoculars, and drones,” a reservist soldier serving in the area said.
“We report whenever we see drones in the area. We try to determine whether they are ours or belong to Hamas. This is a scenario that happened at the beginning of the war, disappeared for a while, and has now returned. There are ways to deal with it, but it’s concerning. We were told they managed to smuggle drones during the ceasefire, when 600 trucks a day were coming in. It might also have happened via aerial smuggling. If they can smuggle cellphones, drugs and cigarettes, why not drones?”
Hezbollah Attempts To Reestablish Presence In Southern Lebanon
Footage from the funeral of a Hezbollah operative recently killed in southern Lebanon illustrated the complex situation unfolding in the country. Hundreds of the terrorist organization’s supporters marched through the rubble-strewn streets of the village of Alta al-Shaab, waving Hezbollah flags and chanting religious songs associated with the terror group, just a short distance from IDF troops stationed along the border.
The terrorist, Mohammad Ali Srour, was killed in a drone strike that targeted a vehicle on the Aita al-Shaab-debel road in southern Lebanon. Following the announcement of the death, Hezbollah affiliated social media accounts circulated an invitation to attend his funeral in the village, which lies just one kilometer from the Israeli border. According to the Lebanese broadcaster Al-Jadeed, the funeral was held “in view of Israeli soldiers positioned in the area of al-Raheb.”
Meanwhile, alongside Hezbollah’s ongoing activities, Lebanon’s official authorities are also calling for an immediate Israeli withdrawal from five locations still held by the IDF in the country’s south. Their demands also include a halt to airstrikes and the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel. Hezbollah would likely be pressing these same demands through far less diplomatic means, were its standing in the country stronger. For now, residents of southern Lebanese villages, many of them from Hezbollah strongholds, are gradually returning to their homes, resuming daily life, and awaiting aid and reconstruction.
Israel continues to monitor Hezbollah’s activities in Lebanon, and the ongoing airstrikes reflect the sustained military presence. On Wednesday (4th), Lebanese media reported that Israel distributed leaflets threatening a senior Hezbollah figure residing in the village of Yaroun, Mohammad Abbas Shahin. The message warned Shahin that he was under aerial and ground surveillance and urged him, “for his own sake and for the sake of the residents of Yaroun,” not to cooperate with the association Wa A’inu Ala al-Birr – a Hezbollah-linked civilian group that allows the organization to operate under the guise of social aid.
This group has donated portable structures to several villages in southern Lebanon, many of which have been targeted by the IDF in recent months. Israel’s precision strikes against Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure have reinforced suspicions that the association serves as a civilian cover for military activity, similar to the previously exposed Hezbollah-affiliated organization “Green without Borders.”
On May 17, a security source told the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, that Israel had struck all the prefab structures in town along the western sector of the border.
The Alma Research and Education Center, which studies security developments in northern Israel, published a report in April detailing Hezbollah’s use of Wa A’inu Ala al-Birr. The report stated: “The association’s charitable and social aid activities are part of Hezbollah’s broader influence strategy.” It also noted “the campaign to deploy mobile structures along the contact line of Hezbollah’s renewed military footprint in southern Lebanon.” According to the report, the association’s financial ties to Hezbollah and Iran are explicit, and its director, Afif Shuman, appears to be exploiting its financial resources for personal enrichment at the expense of Hezbollah’s Shiite base.
The center further noted that Hezbollah’s tactic is clear: flood the contact line with identical portable structures. While some of the structures may indeed be used by civilians and farmers, others – especially those placed in locations designated by Hezbollah as operationally strategic – are expected to become terrorist outposts staffed by terrorists.
Rafael Iron Beam Lasers Could Neutralize Missiles Instantly, End Bomb Shelter Runs
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has unveiled a new line of lasers that could potentially eliminate threats before they leave enemy territory, making running to bomb shelters a distant memory.
The family of advanced lasers – Iron Beam, Iron Beam M and Lite Beam-can shoot down missiles at lightning speeds.
Lasers travel much faster than any interceptor currently in Israel’s arsenal and can deal with threats instantly.
The only time seeking shelter will be necessary is if there is a malfunction or somehow the laser missed its target.
Rafael expects to display its new line of lasers at a conference in Paris in ten days.
The Lite Beam can be positioned on ground vehicles and fires a 10 kw beam.
The Iron Beam M can be mounted on trucks and emits a 250 mm, 50 kw beam.
The full-size Iron Beam is intended to remain in one place and fires a 450 mm.100 kw beam.
Although other defense companies in other countries are also developing lasers for missile defense, only Rafael in Israel has implemented these lasers in actual combat.
The Defense Ministry revealed that it used the Lite Beam to shoot down 40 Hezbollah drones throughout 2024.
The current lasers are intended for use on the ground. Still, Rafael admitted that adapting the technology for planes may be more complicated, given the interference, dust, debris, and winds that can affect the laser’s functioning.
The other drawback of aerial lasers is that they are more likely to hit unintended targets than those that are grounded or placed on vehicles.
Rafael’s laser system offers significant savings over Iron Dome, with lasers costing just $3 for every drone or missile neutralized, compared to Iron Dome’s $40,000 per interceptor.
Lasers also involve simpler logistics than Iron Dome, as they do not require additional equipment to move and store.
‘We won’t Stand Idly By’: Israel Warns Syria Against Renewing WMD Ties With North Korea
A senior Israeli diplomat warned this week that Israel would not remain passive if Syria’s new leadership seeks to renew cooperation with North Korea on weapons of mass destruction.
“Israel will not stand idly by if it becomes clear that the new regime in Damascus is attempting to reestablish ties with North Korea in the area of non-conventional weapons,” Aviv Ezra, deputy director general for Asia and the Pacific at Israel’s Foreign Ministry, said in an interview with NK News during the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore.
Ezra said Israel would act “through kinetic and non-kinetic means to prevent North Korea from continuing to contribute to the proliferation of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons in the Middle East.”
His remarks follow the ousting of longtime Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December and the rise of a new government led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani. The new leadership has been seeking regional and international legitimacy.
During Assad’s rule, Syria and North Korea collaborated on sensitive military projects, including a nuclear reactor that was destroyed in a 2007 airstrike widely attributed to Israel. Ezra confirmed Israeli involvement in the operation for the first time.
“We know that we’ve acted in the past to remove that threat,” he said.
Though North Korea’s diplomatic mission left Damascus after Assad’s fall, various reports indicate that Syria’s new government still maintains a diplomatic presence in Pyongyang. Ezra noted that while diplomatic ties alone do not justify military action, they are significant in the broader “battle for public perception.”
Ezra also expressed concern over continued cooperation between Iran and North Korea on missiles and weapons, calling it a “real threat to regional stability.”
“The coalition on the other side is consistently working to strengthen this cooperation,” he said. “There are other players involved as well.”
A senior North Korean delegation visited Tehran in April – the first such visit in five years. While Iranian officials said the trip was strictly economic, Israeli officials view it as part of a broader troubling pattern.
“We are expressing our concerns to many countries,” Ezra said. “This does not contribute to stability, in any way.”
Ambassador Danny Danon: “We will Recruit The US Against A Palestinian State”
An upcoming event at the United Nations, led by France and Saudi Arabia, aims to promote international recognition of a Palestinian state.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, told Israel National News about the significance of the upcoming event, Israel’s diplomatic efforts in advance of it, and the broader political challenges facing the country. Ambassador Danon first emphasized that the Israeli mission, under his leadership, is actively working with the United States to ensure it vetoes the resolution.
“The vote is nothing more than a reward for terrorism.” Danon asserted. “Instead of putting pressure on Hamas to accept the proposed framework for peace, the international community is targeting Israel and demanding a ceasefire without any concessions from the other side.”
Danon acknowledged the risk that the resolution could pass despite US opposition. “If it does, it would be very problematic,” he warned. “We will continue to act with determination, but international pressure will mount. This could open the door to sanctions and set a precedent for other countries to take similar steps against us.”
While expressing confidence in the United States, Danon remained cautious. “It’s hard to imagine the US letting this pass, but based on experience, we must wait for an official response. We hope to receive one in the coming hours.”
Danon questioned the timing and intent behind supporting a Palestinian state.
“We’re in the middle of a war, with 58 hostages still in Hamas captivity, and yet France is leading an international discussion on establishing a Palestinian state,” he said. It’s completely disconnected from reality. This is clearly a French-led initiative, even if Saudi Arabia is involved.”
Danon added that the event is more than symbolic. “It’s not just about speeches and working groups at the UN—it’s an effort to rally countries that haven’t yet recognized a Palestinian state to do so.”
In response, the Israeli delegation is reaching out to participating nations, emphasizing the stark contrast between the situation on the ground and the discourse in New York. “The gap is enormous. We see a militant Hamas in Gaza and a weak Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. The discussion here ignores that reality.”
The Israeli mission is also urging allies to avoid involvement in what Danon described as “a political show.” He noted ongoing efforts with the US to ensure it continues to abstain from any involvement. “There have already been a series of preparatory meetings in the lead-up to
the event,” he said. “So far, the US has not participated in any of them.”
No Ceasefire Until Hamas Is Destroyed – Maj. (ret.) John Spencer
The goal for Hamas has never been a two-state solution or co-existence. Its charter calls for the annihilation of Israel. Hamas is now fighting to survive politically. If the war ends before Hamas is clearly and decisively defeated, it will be a Hamas victory.
Calls for a ceasefire may sound moral. They are not. A ceasefire without victory rewards war crimes such as mass hostage-taking, torture, mutilation, rape, the deliberate use of human shields, and the slaughter of civilians.
A Hamas victory could establish a new, horrific standard: that if you violate every rule of war with enough strategic cruelty, then international outrage will fall not on you, but on the state trying to stop you. It would teach regimes and terror groups everywhere that civilian deaths are not just tragic but useful, even essential to political victory.
In every prior round of fighting since 2008, Hamas used international pressure for ceasefires to regroup, rearm, and dig deeper into Gaza’s civilian infrastructure. Each ceasefire became a strategic pause, not a step toward peace. Oct.7 was the result. Now Hamas is betting once again that international pressure will save it.
No nation can allow hostage-taking to become an accepted currency of warfare. To do so would invite it everywhere. The idea that a genocidal terror group can survive a war it started by choice, from a position of unprovoked aggression, is another dangerous precedent. It would send a clear signal to Iranian proxies across the region and radical groups worldwide that terrorism works.
War is always tragic. But some wars are necessary. Peace is not possible with an armed, fanatical regime in Gaza that seeks your destruction and views the murder of civilians as a divine duty. Ending this war without defeating Hamas means condemning Israelis – and Palestinians – to unending conflict. It means Oct. 7 becomes a case study in successful terrorism, lawfare, hostage-taking, and wars of aggression. Those calling for an immediate ceasefire either do not understand war, or do not want Hamas to lose.
The writer is chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point.
