Israel’s public broadcaster revealed on Thursday that an explosive-laden drone launched by Hezbollah struck the vehicle of Major General Rafi Milo, commander of the Israeli army’s Northern Command, moments after he exited it during a field visit in southern Lebanon.
According to the broadcaster, the incident occurred while Milo was visiting Israeli commanders and soldiers in southern Lebanon alongside officers from his office. The report did not specify when the incident took place.
The broadcaster stated that an FPV drone directly targeted the military vehicle shortly after Milo and one of his officers had disembarked, preventing them from being injured in the attack.
Growing Concerns Over Hezbollah’s Drone Capabilities
The report noted that the strike did not result in any casualties, but highlighted the scale of the threat posed by Hezbollah’s drone operations against Israeli forces, particularly when senior military figures are targeted.
It added that the death or injury of the Northern Command chief would have represented what it described as a “serious strategic and ideological loss”, and an achievement Hezbollah has reportedly sought for years.
The incident has also reignited questions within the Israeli military establishment regarding the army’s ability to counter the growing threat posed by drones.
The broadcaster questioned whether it was appropriate for a senior Israeli military officer to enter Lebanon at a time when the army remains unable to effectively deal with the danger presented by unmanned aerial systems.
Fibre-Optic Drones Fuel Israeli Alarm
In recent months, drones used by Hezbollah, particularly those linked to fibre-optic guidance technology, have become an increasing source of concern within Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently described such drones as a “major threat” due to the difficulty of detecting and tracking them.
