Key facts
- Israeli drones in south Lebanon are reportedly broadcasting sounds of crying children and other distress calls.
- Residents believe the tactic is used for psychological warfare, to spread fear, or to identify individuals.
- Similar methods have been documented in Gaza during recent conflicts.
- One resident was targeted by broadcasts warning others against interacting with him.
In south Lebanon, Israeli quadcopter drones are reportedly employing psychological warfare tactics by broadcasting sounds of crying children, screaming women, and calls for help. Residents and first responders in villages like Habboush describe these sounds as a nightly occurrence, designed to instill fear, encourage displacement, or lure individuals out of their homes and shelters. Hashem, a paramedic, stated that hearing such cries at night triggers an instinct to investigate, but he quickly realized the sounds were emanating from drones, especially given the sparse population in many villages.
The use of recorded distress sounds is not new, as similar tactics were documented by rights groups, journalists, and residents in Gaza. There, quadcopters equipped with loudspeakers broadcasted sounds of crying children and calls for help, blurring the lines between real distress and recorded audio, and undermining the human instinct to respond to cries for help. This strategy is seen as part of a broader effort to control the psychological and sonic landscape of civilian life.