Even before the devastating explosion that left hundreds dead and thousands injured, and destroyed much of Beirut’s port and the surrounding neighborhood, Lebanon was in the midst of a crisis brought on by rampant corruption, financial collapse, and ineffective governance. Inseparable from this crisis, writes H.R. McMaster, is Hizballah, which has gained immense influence over the small country’s political system. McMaster argues that the resignation of Lebanon’s government, combined with the country’s need for international aid, has opened a chance for political reform:

Reform will be impossible unless the Lebanese people, with international support, reduce the political and military power of Hizballah. Designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the United Kingdom and several other countries, as well as the Arab League, it uses the corrupt sectarian system to block reforms that threaten its influence over Lebanon’s government, financial system, and illicit economy.

Now is the time for potential international donors to Lebanon to magnify the voices of the Lebanese people and make it clear that there can be no bailout of a government and financial system controlled by a terrorist proxy for the Islamic Republic of Iran. Although Hizballah is weakened politically and financially—because of the country’s poor economic state and banking woes that limit its ability to receive money from Iran—its militia controls parts of Lebanon crucial to threatening its southern neighbor, Israel.

As it did in 2006, it is possible that Iran will incite a war with Israel via Hizballah to distract from growing dissent at home and arrest Hizballah’s plummeting reputation in Lebanon. The United States, France, and like-minded countries can place conditions on aid designed to prevent war and reduce Hizballah’s ability to hold the Lebanese and Israeli people hostage.

On Tuesday, a Hizballah drone attack injured three people in northern Israel. The next day, another attack, targeting an IDF base, injured eighteen people, six of them seriously, in Arab al-Amshe, also in the north. This second attack involved the simultaneous use of drones carrying explosives and guided antitank missiles. In both cases, the defensive systems that performed so successfully last weekend failed to stop the drones and missiles. Ron Ben-Yishai has a straightforward explanation as to why: the Lebanon-backed terrorist group is getting better at evading Israel defenses. He explains the three basis systems used to pilot these unmanned aircraft, and their practical effects:

These systems allow drones to act similarly to fighter jets, using “dead zones”—areas not visible to radar or other optical detection—to approach targets. They fly low initially, then ascend just before crashing and detonating on the target. The terrain of southern Lebanon is particularly conducive to such attacks.

But this requires skills that the terror group has honed over months of fighting against Israel. The latest attacks involved a large drone capable of carrying over 50 kg (110 lbs.) of explosives. The terrorists have likely analyzed Israel’s alert and interception systems, recognizing that shooting down their drones requires early detection to allow sufficient time for launching interceptors.

The IDF tries to detect any incoming drones on its radar, as it had done prior to the war. Despite Hizballah’s learning curve, the IDF’s technological edge offers an advantage. However, the military must recognize that any measure it takes is quickly observed and analyzed, and even the most effective defenses can be incomplete. The terrain near the Lebanon-Israel border continues to pose a challenge, necessitating technological solutions and significant financial investment.