The goal is to induce Hezbollah’s “Golden Eagle” drone units—which have launched over 140 explosive-laden drones since the hostilities resumed in March 2026—into wasting their precision-guided munitions on non-human targets.
By Hezy Laing
The use of life-sized manikins has emerged as a cornerstone of the IDF’s psychological warfare and tactical deception strategy against Hezbollah’s increasingly lethal drone fleet.
As of May 2026, military officials have confirmed that decoy units are being deployed across the Northern Command, specifically within the Asher and Baram Regional Brigades, to counteract the threat of First Person View (FPV) drones.
These decoys, often dressed in standard-issue olive-green uniforms and equipped with realistic helmets and vests, are strategically placed in high-visibility areas like bunkers, sniper nests, and even the front seats of military jeeps.
The goal is to induce Hezbollah’s “Golden Eagle” drone units—which have launched over 140 explosive-laden drones since the hostilities resumed in March 2026—into wasting their precision-guided munitions on non-human targets.
The tactical necessity of these manikins grew significantly following the widespread deployment of Hezbollah’s fiber-optic drones, which utilize a physical cable up to 10 or 15 kilometers long.
Unlike traditional wireless drones, these devices are immune to electronic jamming systems, allowing operators like those from Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force to manually steer them with crystal-clear video feeds.
By placing decoys in “bait” positions, the IDF effectively forces an operator to commit a drone that might otherwise target active-duty troops like those of the Givati or Golani brigades.
In a notable documented instance on May 7, 2026, a Hezbollah FPV drone was filmed striking a stationary target near the border that turned out to be a dummy, preserving the lives of soldiers who were operating several hundred meters away under the cover of a smokescreen.
While Hezbollah-affiliated media, including Al-Manar and reporter Ali Shoeib, have attempted to mock these “dolls” as a sign of Israeli fear, IDF planners view the deception as a high-value, low-cost life-saving measure.
These “manikin squads” work in tandem with other improvised defenses, such as the “protective cages” and physical nets currently being installed on Merkava IV tanks and Namer APCs.
By creating a cluttered and confusing battlefield environment, the IDF disrupts the decision-making cycle of the drone pilots, who often have only seconds to commit to a strike before their batteries or cables fail.
As the war of attrition continues into late spring 2026, these silent plastic sentinels remain a vital tool in shielding Israeli soldiers from the invisible eyes of the sky.
