Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe’s recent visit to Israel was about more than improving economic ties between the two countries. Omer Dostri explains:

Since Abe came to power, Japan has undergone a process of changing its foreign policy, especially regarding its relationship with Israel. . . . Japan is turning toward more assertive and active policies when it comes to foreign relations, and it is interested in taking on a central role in the local and global arenas. . . .

These changes were made as tensions with China grew in the background, especially with regard to the ongoing conflict over the disputed islands in the East China Sea. Added to that tension is the nuclear threat against Japan from North Korea. These threats draw Japan closer to Israel on a strategic level, because, like Japan, Israel is threatened by a country racing to achieve nuclear military capability and is challenged by predatory neighboring countries, even if they are not in the same geographic area.

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.