Select Page

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.

More From Newsweek