Katz moves to ban a fiber-optic, SIM-operated drones from Israeli airspace amid growing threats

Among the varied threats mentioned were drone attacks, attempts to harm senior officials, usage of the drones by organized crime families, smuggling, and illicitly gathering intelligence.

Defense Minister Israel Katz plans to sign an order banning fiber-optic and SIM-controlled drones from flying in Israeli airspace on Sunday, Katz's office announced on Tuesday, in an effort to curb security threats posed by these drone types.

Among the varied threats mentioned were drone attacks, attempts to harm senior officials, usage of the drones by organized crime families, smuggling, and illicitly gathering intelligence.

The order will last six months from its signing and was approved in advance by both Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a cabinet meeting.

The order also includes exceptions for security force drones, fiber-optic drones tied to the ground, SIM-operated drones which had received prior authorization from the Civil Aviation Authority, and all non-fiber-optic or SIM-operated drones.

IDF establishing new drone-countering corps

Also on Tuesday, Walla reported that IDF Ground Forces Commander Maj.-Gen. Nadav Lotan is working to establish a new corps dedicated to countering low-altitude drone threats, as part of an effort to strengthen Israel's defenses against the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles.

The corps will initially be based on five battalions that routinely protect the borders with Jordan and Egypt, as well as the security barrier area in the West Bank.

Under the plan, these battalions will assume an additional mission alongside their existing responsibility for defending Israel's land borders: protecting against mobile threats operating in the airspace close to the ground.