Israeli soldiers operating in southern Lebanon have been using life-sized mannequins dressed in military uniforms as decoys, a tactic designed to deceive Hezbollah fighters and drones, according to Israeli military correspondent Itay Blumental.
In recent days, photos taken by IDF troops showing one such doll inside a house in Lebanon were uploaded to social media. The image quickly spread widely across Lebanese and broader Arab social media networks, with many accounts sharing it as evidence of Israeli presence in the area.
Blumental explained that the use of dummy soldiers is a deliberate Israeli military deception technique. The mannequins are placed to:
- Attract the attention of Hezbollah’s surveillance and attack drones
- Draw enemy fire away from real troops
- Force Hezbollah to waste ammunition and reveal their positions by attacking the decoys
“This is a known method used by the IDF to deal with drones and terrorists,” Blumental noted. Similar decoy tactics have been employed along the northern border in previous years.
The photo has sparked significant discussion in Lebanon, with some interpreting it as proof of Israeli activity inside villages, while Israeli sources view the episode as a successful example of psychological and deception warfare.
The IDF has not issued an official comment on the specific photo, but the tactic itself aligns with standard counter-insurgency and force-protection measures used in areas with high drone threats.
Hezbollah has increasingly relied on drones for attacks against Israeli forces since the escalation along the Lebanon-Israel border began in October 2023. Israel has responded with a combination of technological countermeasures, airstrikes, and ground operations in southern Lebanon.
