IDF extends suspension of 'Atalef' loitering munition drones after two reservists killed

The Israeli military has extended the suspension of its “Atalef” (Bat) attack drone after two reservists were killed last week while operating the platform.

Following the deadly explosion, the commander of the ground forces conducted a situational assessment and decided to extend the suspension until October 4 as a precaution.

“On Sunday, subject to a situational assessment, divisions will be able to resume the use of attack drones in accordance with the required actions and reporting on their implementation,” the military said.

The “Atalef” drone has been widely used by the military across multiple fronts since the beginning of the war, but the IDF halted their use following the deaths of reservists Maj. (res.) Nadav Kali, 24, from Har Halutz, and Maj. (res.) Ofek Moalem, 23, from Jerusalem.

They had been stationed at a post near the northern Gazan city of Beit Hanun and had been operating two drones. While the first successfully reached its target, during the second operation another drone was launched and crashed inside their post.

KAN News reported that the arming mechanism of the platform is based on movement, with the charge activated by shaking. According to a report on Army Radio, the two had turned off the remote control of the drone, an action intended to reduce risk to troops as it acts as the drone's safety mechanism by preventing the drone from exploding.

Nevertheless, when two reservists approached the drone that had fallen, it exploded for reasons that still remain unclear, killing them.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir has opened an investigation into the incident, examining whether the explosion was caused by a technical malfunction or other possibilities, such as electronic warfare interference by Hamas. But as the Gazan terror group does not have the ability to remotely take control of such platforms, the IDF is increasingly confident that it was an operational accident.

The “Atalef” drone began as a wartime response by troops who needed small, mobile unmanned aerial systems. It was developed by the IDF’s Yiftach unit, and within three months the first platform was ready for operational use.

It weighs 1 kg. (2.2 pounds) and can carry a warhead several times heavier than the platform itself. The cheap, agile first-person view (FPV) attack and loitering munition drone can track a moving target at speeds up to 130 km./hour and is easy to operate for troops across diverse battlefields.

According to the IDF, there are plans to upgrade the platform into an autonomous system that is capable of reaching various targets while coordinating with drone swarms to enhance its lethality.

Nevertheless, the system has had its fair share of failures.

On Saturday, N12 news site reported that the “Atalef” drones had failed to detonate on at least seven prior occasions, and in another three incidents in 2025 had exploded while being examined by IDF forces.

After several investigations into these incidents, the Yahalom Unit released a series of safety guidelines for the “Atalef” drones, including explicitly instructing soldiers not to approach or move fallen drones and instead call in bomb disposal forces.