Hezbollah, a militant group based in Lebanon, is now using old Soviet-era drones in a way that’s caught many by surprise—they’ve turned them into cruise missiles. Recently, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed they destroyed one of these converted drones before it could be launched. The drone in question, called a Tu-143 Reys, was originally designed for reconnaissance missions by the Soviet Union, but Hezbollah has found a new use for them.
The IDF released a video showing the airstrike on a house in southern Lebanon where the missile was being hidden. According to the IDF, Hezbollah had converted this drone into what they’re calling a “DR-3 cruise missile,” capable of long-range strikes. Hezbollah already has a large number of rockets and missiles, but this is the first time they’ve used this specific type of converted drone in their arsenal.
The Tu-143 drone is quite old, dating back to the Cold War era, but it has some unique qualities that make it attractive for a group like Hezbollah. It doesn’t need a runway to launch; instead, it’s launched from a mobile rail system using rocket boosters. Originally, it was designed to gather intelligence and be recovered with a parachute after missions, but in its new role as a cruise missile, the recovery system isn’t needed. It’s purely a one-way weapon now, designed to hit targets and cause significant damage.
The video released by Israel also highlighted how Hezbollah hides its weapons inside civilian structures like homes. In this case, the Tu-143 was stashed inside a house, ready to be launched through a hole in the building’s wall. The IDF claims they struck just in time, destroying both the missile and the militants preparing to launch it.
Israel has a wide range of weapons for precise strikes like this, including drones, guided bombs, and loitering munitions. In this instance, they may have used a “Harop” loitering munition, which is a type of drone that can hover over a target before striking. The IDF has been targeting similar Hezbollah weapons caches, many of which are hidden in civilian areas across Lebanon.
What’s interesting about this situation is that Hezbollah seems to be following in Ukraine’s footsteps. Ukraine has been converting old Soviet drones into strike weapons ever since Russia’s invasion. The first time this tactic was noticed was when a similar drone, a Tu-141, crashed in Croatia in 2022. Like Hezbollah’s new Tu-143, the Ukrainian versions were turned into long-range weapons capable of causing serious damage. Ukraine even used them to hit Russian targets, including airfields.
It’s unclear how many of these converted drones Hezbollah has or whether they’ve already used them in other attacks. Russia has provided Syria with some of these drones in the past, and since Syria is an ally of both Hezbollah and Iran, it’s likely that Hezbollah got them through that connection. The Tu-143 can carry a 600-pound warhead and has a range of 124 miles, meaning it could potentially hit major cities in Israel, like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. However, the drone’s accuracy is questionable unless significant upgrades have been made to its guidance systems.
As tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalate, Israel has been ramping up its attacks on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. Israeli officials have warned Lebanese civilians to stay away from areas where Hezbollah stores its weapons to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.
In recent weeks, Hezbollah has launched numerous rocket and missile attacks on Israel, sparking fears that the conflict could expand into a larger regional war. The United States has even sent additional troops to the Middle East in response to the growing violence.
While Hezbollah’s use of these old drones is concerning, it’s just another chapter in a conflict that has seen both sides constantly adapt their tactics. What remains to be seen is whether this new cruise missile strategy will change the course of the ongoing conflict or if it’s just a temporary boost to Hezbollah’s arsenal.
