Latest news with #Hamas-aligned
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Israel Lasers Intercept ‘Dozens' of Drones in Major Leap
Israel's military used a high-powered laser to take out drones in combat, the Israeli Defense Ministry said, a significant step toward laser technology being used to intercept real-life threats on the battlefield. Two laser air defense systems have intercepted "dozens and dozens" of threats, most of which were unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched by Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah from Lebanon, retired Brigadier General Daniel Gold, the head of defense research and development for the Israeli Defense Ministry, told Newsweek. Israel first used a laser system in the early days of the war, Gold said. Israel launched a full-scale war on Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza following the organization's unprecedented October 7 attacks in 2023, and battled Hamas-aligned Hezbollah over Israel's northern border until a fragile ceasefire ended full-scale hostilities in November 2024. Israel is one of several countries developing high-powered lasers to take out threats in the sky, most suited to intercepting cheap drones that would be incredibly expensive to shoot down with interceptor missiles. While costing almost nothing to fire, the setup costs for these laser systems are huge. But interceptor missiles for Israel's vaunted Iron Dome short-range air defense system cost tens of thousands of dollars each, racking up an eye-watering bill when defending against high numbers of targets. Analysts say lasers, a type of directed energy weapon, can be very useful as part of a larger web of air defenses, able to knock out smaller, slower targets but vulnerable to bad weather conditions. The U.S. military said in 2024 the Army had used lasers to intercept drones in the Middle East, but did not provide further details. The U.S. military has tested directed energy weapons in the Middle East, the commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael Erik Kurilla, separately told lawmakers back in March 2024. The Israeli Defense Ministry said the government, military and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems—Israel's state-owned defense giant—had accelerated the development of "revolutionary" systems and achieved "outstanding" results. It is a "major milestone," Gold said. Rafael's chairman, Yuval Steinitz, said Israel was the "first country in the world to transform high-power laser technology into a fully operational system—and to execute actual combat interceptions." Rafael is also building the Iron Beam laser system, expected to come into service in the latter half of the year. "This system will fundamentally change the defense equation by enabling fast, precise, cost-effective interceptions, unmatched by any existing system," said Rafael chief executive, Yoav Tourgeman. The two deployed laser systems are lower-powered, more mobile and slightly less costly than the Iron Beam, Gold said. The Israeli government published footage it said showed the laser systems in action during the war. One clip looks to show at least one fixed-wing drone falling from the air after one of the wings is damaged by a laser. The footage is "entirely plausible," said David Hambling, a U.K.-based weapons and technology expert. "Drones are great targets for lasers because they are much smaller and more fragile than crewed aircraft and generally fly at slow speed without evading," he told Newsweek. "This make sit possible to focus a laser on one for long enough to burn through the skin and cause real damage, which is exactly what the video appears to show." But with drone technology evolving at a rapid pace, they could end up fitted with countermeasures to make it much harder for lasers to intercept these targets, Hambling suggested. The U.K. military said in April that British soldiers had used an "invisible radio-wave weapon" to knock out swarms of drones for the first time. Radio waves can be used as another type of directed energy weapon. The U.K. is also developing a laser-directed energy weapon dubbed DragonFire. Related Articles Iran May Hold the Key to Trump's Nuclear RevolutionUS and Iran Nuclear Deal Could Be Sealed at Next Meeting: ReportViral Video Shows Gazans Cheering USA. But Is It Real?Trump Says Iran Strike Would Be 'Inappropriate' for Israel Amid Talks 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Israel Lasers Intercept 'Dozens' of Drones in Major Leap
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Israel's military used a high-powered laser to take out drones in combat, the Israeli Defense Ministry said, a significant step toward laser technology being used to intercept real-life threats on the battlefield. Two laser air defense systems have intercepted "dozens and dozens" of threats, most of which were unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched by Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah from Lebanon, retired Brigadier General Daniel Gold, the head of defense research and development for the Israeli Defense Ministry, told Newsweek. Israel first used a laser system in the early days of the war, Gold said. Israel launched a full-scale war on Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza following the organization's unprecedented October 7 attacks in 2023, and battled Hamas-aligned Hezbollah over Israel's northern border until a fragile ceasefire ended full-scale hostilities in November 2024. Israel is one of several countries developing high-powered lasers to take out threats in the sky, most suited to intercepting cheap drones that would be incredibly expensive to shoot down with interceptor missiles. Israel has used a laser directed-energy system to intercept real-life targets for the first time, according to the Israeli government. Israel has used a laser directed-energy system to intercept real-life targets for the first time, according to the Israeli government. Israel Ministry of Defense While costing almost nothing to fire, the setup costs for these laser systems are huge. But interceptor missiles for Israel's vaunted Iron Dome short-range air defense system cost tens of thousands of dollars each, racking up an eye-watering bill when defending against high numbers of targets. Analysts say lasers, a type of directed energy weapon, can be very useful as part of a larger web of air defenses, able to knock out smaller, slower targets but vulnerable to bad weather conditions. The U.S. military said in 2024 the Army had used lasers to intercept drones in the Middle East, but did not provide further details. The U.S. military has tested directed energy weapons in the Middle East, the commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael Erik Kurilla, separately told lawmakers back in March 2024. The Israeli Defense Ministry said the government, military and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems—Israel's state-owned defense giant—had accelerated the development of "revolutionary" systems and achieved "outstanding" results. It is a "major milestone," Gold said. Rafael's chairman, Yuval Steinitz, said Israel was the "first country in the world to transform high-power laser technology into a fully operational system—and to execute actual combat interceptions." Rafael is also building the Iron Beam laser system, expected to come into service in the latter half of the year. "This system will fundamentally change the defense equation by enabling fast, precise, cost-effective interceptions, unmatched by any existing system," said Rafael chief executive, Yoav Tourgeman. The two deployed laser systems are lower-powered, more mobile and slightly less costly than the Iron Beam, Gold said. The Israeli government published footage it said showed the laser systems in action during the war. One clip looks to show at least one fixed-wing drone falling from the air after one of the wings is damaged by a laser. The footage is "entirely plausible," said David Hambling, a U.K.-based weapons and technology expert. "Drones are great targets for lasers because they are much smaller and more fragile than crewed aircraft and generally fly at slow speed without evading," he told Newsweek. "This make sit possible to focus a laser on one for long enough to burn through the skin and cause real damage, which is exactly what the video appears to show." But with drone technology evolving at a rapid pace, they could end up fitted with countermeasures to make it much harder for lasers to intercept these targets, Hambling suggested. The U.K. military said in April that British soldiers had used an "invisible radio-wave weapon" to knock out swarms of drones for the first time. Radio waves can be used as another type of directed energy weapon. The U.K. is also developing a laser-directed energy weapon dubbed DragonFire.
The Hindu
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Islamist leader among two dead in air strikes on Lebanon
A leader from Hamas-aligned Jamaa Islamiya was killed Tuesday (April 22, 2025) in an Israeli strike, the Lebanese Islamist group and Israel's military said, as the health ministry reported another dead in a separate raid. Israel has continued to carry out regular strikes on Lebanon despite a November truce with militant group Hezbollah that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities between the foes including two months of all-out war. Lebanon's civil defence said "an Israeli drone targeted a car" near the coastal town of Damour, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Beirut, and rescuers recovered a man's body. Jamaa Islamiya in a statement announced the death of Hussein Atwi, calling him "an academic leader and university professor" and saying an Israeli drone strike "targeted his car as he was travelling to his workplace in Beirut". The Israeli army said the air force had "eliminated" Atwi, calling him "a significant terrorist in the Jamaa Islamiya terrorist organisation". A Lebanese security official, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, said Atwi was a leader of Jamaa Islamiya's armed wing, the Al-Fajr Forces. The official said Israel had previously targeted Atwi during its recent war with Hezbollah. An AFP photographer saw the charred wreckage of a car at the scene. The Lebanese army had cordoned off the area and forensic teams were conducting an inspection. Jamaa Islamiya, closely linked to both Palestinian militant group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah, claimed responsibility for multiple attacks against Israel before the November 27 ceasefire. The Israeli military said Atwi had been "involved in planning and advancing terrorist activity from Lebanon into Israeli territory" and had operated "in coordination with Hamas in Lebanon". It said he had "carried out rocket attacks, coordinated terrorist infrastructure... and advanced attempts to infiltrate into Israeli territory". Also Tuesday, Lebanon's health ministry said an "Israeli enemy" strike in south Lebanon's Tyre district killed one person. Under the truce, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters north of Lebanon's Litani River and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south. Israel was to withdraw all its forces from south Lebanon, but troops remain in five positions that it deems "strategic". Israel on Sunday said it had killed two senior Hezbollah members in strikes on Lebanon. Lebanese authorities have said Israeli fire has killed some 190 people since the ceasefire. After unclaimed rocket fire against Israel in late March, Lebanon's army said last week it had arrested several Lebanese and Palestinian suspects, while a security official said they included three Hamas members.
Khaleej Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Islamist leader among 2 dead in air strikes on Lebanon
A leader from Hamas-aligned Jamaa Islamiya was killed on Tuesday in an Israeli strike, the Lebanese Islamist group and Israel's military said, as the health ministry reported another dead in a separate raid. Israel has continued to carry out regular strikes on Lebanon despite a November truce with militant group Hezbollah that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities between the foes including two months of all-out war. Lebanon's civil defence said "an Israeli drone targeted a car" near the coastal town of Damour, about 20 kilometres south of Beirut, and rescuers recovered a man's body. Jamaa Islamiya in a statement announced the death of Hussein Atwi, calling him "an academic leader and university professor" and saying an Israeli drone strike "targeted his car as he was travelling to his workplace in Beirut". The Israeli army said the air force had "eliminated" Atwi, calling him "a significant terrorist in the Jamaa Islamiya terrorist organisation". A Lebanese security official, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, said Atwi was a leader of Jamaa Islamiya's armed wing, the Al Fajr Forces. The official said Israel had previously targeted Atwi during its recent war with Hezbollah. An AFP photographer saw the charred wreckage of a car at the scene. The Lebanese army had cordoned off the area and forensic teams were conducting an inspection. Jamaa Islamiya, closely linked to both Palestinian militant group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah, claimed responsibility for multiple attacks against Israel before the November 27 ceasefire. The Israeli military said Atwi had been "involved in planning and advancing terrorist activity from Lebanon into Israeli territory" and had operated "in coordination with Hamas in Lebanon". It said he had "carried out rocket attacks, coordinated terrorist infrastructure... and advanced attempts to infiltrate into Israeli territory". Also on Tuesday, Lebanon's health ministry said an "Israeli enemy" strike in south Lebanon's Tyre district killed one person. Under the truce, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters north of Lebanon's Litani River and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south. Israel was to withdraw all its forces from south Lebanon, but troops remain in five positions that it deems "strategic". Israel on Sunday said it had killed two senior Hezbollah members in strikes on Lebanon. Lebanese authorities have said Israeli fire has killed some 190 people since the ceasefire. After unclaimed rocket fire against Israel in late March, Lebanon's army said last week it had arrested several Lebanese and Palestinian suspects, while a security official said they included three Hamas members.
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Islamist leader among 2 dead in air strikes on Lebanon
A leader from Hamas-aligned Jamaa Islamiya was killed Tuesday in an Israeli strike, the Lebanese Islamist group and Israel's military said, as the health ministry reported another dead in a separate raid. Israel has continued to carry out regular strikes on Lebanon despite a November truce with militant group Hezbollah that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities between the foes including two months of all-out war. Lebanon's civil defence said "an Israeli drone targeted a car" near the coastal town of Damour, about 20 kilometres south of Beirut, and rescuers recovered a man's body. Jamaa Islamiya in a statement announced the death of Hussein Atwi, calling him "an academic leader and university professor" and saying an Israeli drone strike "targeted his car as he was travelling to his workplace in Beirut". The Israeli army said the air force had "eliminated" Atwi, calling him "a significant terrorist in the Jamaa Islamiya terrorist organisation". A Lebanese security official, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, said Atwi was a leader of Jamaa Islamiya's armed wing, the Al-Fajr Forces. The official said Israel had previously targeted Atwi during its recent war with Hezbollah. An AFP photographer saw the charred wreckage of a car at the scene. The Lebanese army had cordoned off the area and forensic teams were conducting an inspection. Jamaa Islamiya, closely linked to both Palestinian militant group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah, claimed responsibility for multiple attacks against Israel before the November 27 ceasefire. The Israeli military said Atwi had been "involved in planning and advancing terrorist activity from Lebanon into Israeli territory" and had operated "in coordination with Hamas in Lebanon". It said he had "carried out rocket attacks, coordinated terrorist infrastructure... and advanced attempts to infiltrate into Israeli territory". Also Tuesday, Lebanon's health ministry said an "Israeli enemy" strike in south Lebanon's Tyre district killed one person. Under the truce, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters north of Lebanon's Litani River and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south. Israel was to withdraw all its forces from south Lebanon, but troops remain in five positions that it deems "strategic". Israel on Sunday said it had killed two senior Hezbollah members in strikes on Lebanon. Lebanese authorities have said Israeli fire has killed some 190 people since the ceasefire. After unclaimed rocket fire against Israel in late March, Lebanon's army said last week it had arrested several Lebanese and Palestinian suspects, while a security official said they included three Hamas members. str-lk/lg/srm
