Israeli soldiers deployed inside Lebanon describe mounting fear and constant anxiety under the threat of Hezbollah explosive drones, which they say have turned routine operations into moments of exposure and helplessness, according to testimonies published by Yedioth Ahronoth.
New accounts from troops and officers depict drones employed by the Lebanese resistance group as a persistent battlefield threat that has reshaped conditions on the ground, leaving soldiers feeling vulnerable, exposed, and uncertain of their ability to respond effectively during operations inside Lebanese territory.
A soldier from the 98th Division, identified by Yedioth Ahronoth only as “A,” said his experience in Lebanon was more frightening than any previous deployment. He described a constant threat from Hezbollah drones that left him feeling “helpless and perpetually anxious,” adding that the psychological pressure in the field was unlike anything he had previously encountered.
This video shows footage from the Islamic Resistance’s operation targeting a Merkava tank belonging to the “Israeli” enemy army on the eastern outskirts of Yohmor Al-Shaqif town in southern Lebanon with an Ababil loitering glider [FPV] pic.twitter.com/tc1PNGTgEK
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The soldier recounted an incident in which his unit was alerted to drone activity overhead, forcing him to abandon his vehicle and take cover in nearby woods. He said the experience of helplessness under such conditions was the most difficult moment of his military service.
“It’s a profound sense of helplessness—unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. You feel completely exposed, and all you can do is hope you’re not next,” the Israeli daily quoted the soldier as saying.
In his testimony, he also expressed frustration with Israeli military leadership, arguing that the Israeli army “was not advancing with sufficient momentum” and that field units were operating under restricted authority. This, he said, was fueling uncertainty among soldiers about whether the mission in southern Lebanon was achieving concrete results or merely exposing them to risk without clear strategic gains.
In a separate account, Lieutenant “Sh,” commander of a technology and maintenance company in the Israeli Givati Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, described a deadly close-range Hezbollah drone strike during a mission in southern Lebanon last May.
She said she and her assistant entered a disabled Namer armored personnel carrier when the unit came under attack from an explosive drone. According to her account, her assistant managed to spot the drone at the last moment and push it into the vehicle just before it detonated, causing both to suffer serious injuries.
The officer said she sustained shrapnel wounds to her face and head, as well as damage to her eardrum, while her assistant suffered injuries to his legs. Both were evacuated for treatment, and she later underwent multiple surgeries, with some fragments reportedly remaining in her body, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.
The testimonies underscore the growing operational and psychological challenges facing Israeli occupation forces in Lebanon, particularly amid Hezbollah’s expanding use of drones and their impact on troop morale and battlefield conditions.
Source: Hebrew media (translated and edited by Al-Manar)