Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video Sunday addressing what he characterized as one of the most significant security challenges facing modern militaries: the proliferation and use of armed drones in combat.
In the footage, filmed in his office with a map of the Middle East visible behind him, Netanyahu held a scale model of an F-35 fighter jet while drawing a comparison to consumer drones. Despite their small size, he argued, these unmanned aircraft have been weaponized into precise instruments of warfare that are difficult to detect and can operate in coordinated swarms.
"This is a threat we cannot ignore," Netanyahu said in the video, pointing to the widespread deployment of drones across multiple global conflict zones, including Ukraine, Lebanon, and Gaza. He noted that Iran has also pursued advanced drone technology.
The prime minister said Israel has invested substantially in developing both defensive and offensive capabilities to counter drone threats, positioning the country as among the world's leaders in the field. However, he stressed that the challenge is not unique to Israel and continues to evolve across modern battlefields worldwide.
Netanyahu outlined a four-part directive he has issued to Israel's security establishment and the military: strike the drones themselves, apprehend the operators, target the launch sites, and ensure the protection of Israeli civilians in border communities and throughout the country.
The prime minister's emphasis on drone defense reflects a broader shift in military strategy across the Middle East and globally, where unmanned systems have become central to modern conflict.
