عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Israel Expands Drone Use in Southern Lebanon to Intercept Civilians

An armed Israeli drone flies over villages in southern Lebanon in July (Hezbollah Media)
An armed Israeli drone flies over villages in southern Lebanon in July (Hezbollah Media)
TT
TT

Israel Expands Drone Use in Southern Lebanon to Intercept Civilians

An armed Israeli drone flies over villages in southern Lebanon in July (Hezbollah Media)
An armed Israeli drone flies over villages in southern Lebanon in July (Hezbollah Media)

Israeli drones are now being used for more than just tracking and targeting fighters in southern Lebanon. They’re also setting fires to forests, intimidating residents, and stopping cars at night to broadcast messages through loudspeakers.

Recent reports and social media videos show these new uses. In one troubling incident, an Israeli drone blocked a civilian in his car in the border town of Khallwat in the Hasbaya district, holding him for several minutes.

Local TV channel Al-Jadeed reported that an Israeli drone briefly held a civilian in his car and shone bright lights on him. The man was able to leave safely.

Other reports say the drone stopped the man early in the morning on his way home, using strong green lights that caused him pain.

The type of light used by the Israeli drone is not clear, but experts believe it’s not a laser.

Instead, it was likely a spotlight used to help the drone’s camera scan the driver’s face and collect information. This process involves a camera that captures the image and sends it to a computer where AI can identify the person quickly.

Experts tell Asharq Al-Awsat that Israel’s advanced technology means the bright light could be used for intimidation, to confirm the person’s identity, or to analyze body shape data.

They agree that the situation is concerning.

In another incident, a new video showed an Israeli drone dropping burning materials on forests near borders in Lebanon’s town of Adaisseh. The footage shows the drone releasing the substance, which started a fire.

Israeli drones with loudspeakers have been also flying over border villages, warning residents and broadcasting messages. Locals say the drones not only relay army statements but also insult Hezbollah and incite against the group.

This has been happening in multiple villages over the past month.

Moreover, Israeli warplanes have been striking the outskirts of Zibkin, Naqoura, and Wadi Hamoul, causing severe damage to property, crops, and forests.

The Israeli military also shelled the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab and hit areas around Naqoura and Alma al-Shaab with artillery fire.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

EU Calls on Libyan Leaders to Deescalate Tensions

Libya's central bank governor Sadiq al-Kabir (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Libya's central bank governor Sadiq al-Kabir (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

EU Calls on Libyan Leaders to Deescalate Tensions

Libya's central bank governor Sadiq al-Kabir (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Libya's central bank governor Sadiq al-Kabir (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The European Union Delegation have urged all Libyan leaders to put national interests first, deescalate tensions, refrain from the use or threat of force, and lift the force majeure on all oil fields.

This came shortly after Libya's central bank governor Sadiq al-Kabir said he and other senior bank staff had been forced to leave the country to “protect our lives” from potential attacks, according to a report by the Financial Times.

On Friday, the EU Delegation and the diplomatic missions of EU Member States in Libya said they are gravely concerned about the deterioration of the situation in Libya amidst growing political fragmentation in the absence of unified institutions.

In a statement, the delegation urged all parties to engage constructively in good faith and seek a negotiated solution.

“We reaffirm our readiness to actively support this process, including to restore Libya’s path to the formation of a unified government and to national elections and call on all Libyan leaders to put national interests first, deescalate tensions, refrain from the use or threat of force, and lift the force majeure on all oil fields,” it added.

The delegation also warned that the intimidation of High Council of State members and CBL employees, the closure of oil fields, and disruptions in banking services are exacerbating an already fragile situation, threatening the economic lifelines of the Libyan people.

It then expressed support to UNSMIL’s call for urgent steps to deescalate and welcome the initiative to convene an emergency meeting of all relevant stakeholders to peacefully resolve the Central Bank crisis.

On Thursday, the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) administration, which is loyal to the Tripoli authorities, said it has regained control of all banking systems, after it was disrupted by the previous administration of the bank.

Tensions in Tripoli have forced al-Kabir to flee the country.

Al-Kabir told the Financial Times via telephone that “militias are threatening and terrifying bank staff and are sometimes abducting their children and relatives to force them to go to work,” referring to the kidnapping of director of his office, Rasem Najjar, and three employees.

The crisis over the control of the Central Bank of Libya renewed when the Tripoli-based Presidential Council moved this month to oust al-Kabir and replace him with a rival board.

The decision came against the wishes of Parliament which came to support al-Kabir by deciding to shut oilfields, suspend oil production and exports—the main source of revenue of the country.

However, al-Kabir chose to leave the country.

He said attempts by interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah to replace him were illegal, and contravened UN negotiated accords on control of the central bank.