Six minutes to Tel Aviv: Israeli border communities sound alarm over Iranian drone threat

Dozens of drones have been seized by the Israeli military in the West Bank in recent weeks, as Iran attempts to establish an unmanned aircraft operation similar to the one it runs from Lebanon. The discoveries have prompted urgent warnings from communities living near the border, who say they face an immediate and critical threat from aerial attack.Residents of settlements along the security barrier are demanding enhanced air defence systems and radar coverage, describing themselves as the country’s vulnerable underbelly. According to local officials, a drone launched from the West Bank could potentially reach Tel Aviv—Israel’s largest city—in just six minutes, leaving minimal time for defensive response.The threat comes as Israel faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts. Iran has already demonstrated sophisticated drone capabilities through Hezbollah in Lebanon, and security officials now fear Tehran is attempting to replicate this network in Palestinian territory. The seizure of numerous unmanned systems suggests the transfer of technology and operational knowledge may already be underway.Border residents say the current state of air defence leaves them dangerously exposed. “We are the soft underbelly of the state,” community leaders have said, emphasising that the threat is not hypothetical but an immediate operational concern. Calls for upgraded military infrastructure reflect growing anxiety about Israel’s ability to protect its civilian population from this emerging aerial threat.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.