Lebanon Debate” – Brigadier General Mounir Shehadeh
Robots in modern Israeli wars are no longer just laboratory experiments or future projects. During the Gaza War, and then in operations related to the Lebanese front, Israel moved to using unmanned ground systems for reconnaissance, entering tunnels, detecting explosive devices and suspicious objects, opening roads, evacuating the wounded, and even carrying out some engineering tasks without the presence of a soldier inside the vehicle.
Data published until 2026 reveal that Israel is moving towards a “robotic battlefield” in which ground robots are integrated with drones, sensors, and artificial intelligence, so that in many cases the soldier becomes an operator of a remote system instead of being the first to enter the danger zone.
At the end of 2025, an Israeli Ministry of Defense official described the 2023–2025 war as “the first robot war,” and said that Israel had deployed tens of thousands of autonomous systems on the battlefield, from swarms of drones to ground robots. This number includes autonomous systems on a large scale, and not ground robots alone.
Who enters the tunnel first? Android
Tunnels are considered one of the most difficult combat environments: darkness, narrowness, branches, canisters, fortified doors, the possibility of the presence of fighters, and the dangers of collapse or suffocation.
That’s why Israel developed a simple philosophy:
Before the soldier enters, the camera enters, and before the camera enters, the robots may enter.
A US Army study on the lessons of Israeli operations in Gaza shows that Israeli forces use unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and military dogs to reduce risks during the first phase of entering tunnels, and that some of these vehicles carry mobile cameras, environmental sensors, gas detectors, and mapping capabilities.
First: MTGR — one of the most important tunnel robots
One of the most prominent names that appeared in Israeli operations is the MTGR – Micro Tactical Ground Robot, produced by the Israeli company Roboteam.
It is a small robot originally designed for reconnaissance, tactical operations and explosive disposal.
The specifications of the modern version RT-20 of the MTGR family are:
7.3 kg of basic weight.
Up to 8.6 kg with a wheel system suitable for rough terrain.
Length about 45.5 cm.
Width about 36.8 cm.
Height about 14.5 cm.
Load up to 10 kg.
Ability to climb stairs at an angle of up to 45 degrees.
Ability to work day and night.
360 degree photography.
Robotic arm with 4 degrees of freedom in special equipment.
Ability to carry or handle objects weighing up to 10 kg.
These numbers are militarily important. The weight of less than ten kilograms means that the soldier can carry the robot almost inside his bag and launch it in a place he does not want to enter himself.
Israeli reports in 2025 stated that the MTGR was widely used inside the Gaza tunnels, including searching for tunnel entrances, traps, and explosive devices, in addition to reconnaissance of corridors.
Most importantly, the company itself had announced in 2014 the use of its robots to explore tunnels in Gaza.
Second: IRIS – a robot that can be “thrown” into danger
There is also IRIS, a small robot designed for reconnaissance in closed environments.
His idea is different from the giant bulldozer:
It is a small robot that can be inserted into a corridor, room or tunnel opening, and then sends the image to the operator.
Reports of its use in Gaza indicate its ability to move inside tunnels, transmit images and video to forces outside, with the ability to withstand falls from relatively great heights. Some sources mention its ability to withstand a fall of approximately 30 feet, or about 9 metres.
Here one of the most important advantages of small robots appears:
A soldier does not need to know what is behind the door before he opens the door. The robot can know that first.
Third: AGAMIT – drawing the tunnel, not just photographing it
Israel does not rely solely on (moving cameras).
One of the systems developed by Israel is AGAMIT, a system that can be integrated into various robotic vehicles.
Its primary function is to map tunnels using a combination of cameras and lasers, relaying information to the operator in real time.
More importantly, in some cases of loss of connection, the system can help the platform find its way back.
Here the robot transforms from just an eye into a tool for creating a three-dimensional map of the underground environment.
This is a very important development in the face of a multi-branch tunnel network.
Fourth: Robots for detecting suspicious packages and objects
Tunnels are not the only problem.
In the areas entered by Israeli forces in Gaza and Lebanon, explosive devices and suspicious objects pose a constant danger.
That is why Israeli industries have developed dedicated counter-IED/EOD platforms.
Among them is the SAHAR system of the Israeli Aerospace Industries, which is designed to detect explosive devices, including buried or hidden devices.
The MTGR can also be equipped with means of handling explosives, as its robotic arm can, according to the company, pick up objects weighing up to 10 kg.
The principle here is not necessarily that the robot detonates the device, but rather:
Detect, identify, remotely approach, examine, engage or enable the bomb squad to disable it.
This reduces the explosives expert’s exposure to danger.
Fifth: MiniCat — the small anti-bomb bulldozer
Israel has also developed small unmanned engineering systems, including the MiniCat.
According to the Israeli army, a small Caterpillar platform was transformed into an engineering tool that can be controlled remotely, and is used especially in areas where there are explosive devices near the fence in Gaza.
The platform can perform engineering functions, remove obstacles, and deal with ground threats without the presence of the operator in the vehicle.
Here an important trend emerges:
Not all robots are designed to kill an opponent; Some are designed to make the road safe for soldiers.
Sixth: PANDA — the robot that replaced the soldier in the bulldozer
If MTGR represents a small eye, PANDA represents the heavy engineering arm.
It is a robotic version of the famous D9 bulldozer used by the Israeli engineering forces.
In the Gaza war, this system became one of the most prominent tools for reducing risks to bulldozer crews.
In 2024, Israel announced for the first time the operation of unmanned D9 bulldozers in major operational activity, and reports stated that the robotic bulldozers called PANDA were converted from traditional D9 by Israeli Aerospace Industries.
In 2025, Israel Aerospace Industries officially unveiled the RobDozer version of the D9 robotic bulldozer, confirming that the system is designed to carry out combat engineering tasks without exposing the bulldozer crew to danger.
In an Israeli report published in 2026, it was stated that PANDA had been operating since 2022 and that it had been used extensively during the last three years of the war, and that its control range had been modified in some versions to reach tens of kilometers, compared to about 3-5 km.
What is the D9 robot doing in front of the tunnel?
Here a distinction must be made.
The D9 robot is not a small robot that enters the tunnel.
Its basic function outside the tunnel:
Open roads.
Removing obstacles.
Dealing with areas suspected of containing explosive devices.
Debris removal.
Changing the shape of the Earth.
Access to tunnel openings.
Assisting in combat engineering operations.
Working in areas exposed to enemy fire.
As for inside the tunnel, the most suitable are small robots such as MTGR, IRIS and similar systems.
Seventh: JAGUAR — Robotic border guard
Another system that appeared in the Israeli robotics system is Jaguar, which is an unmanned ground vehicle developed for guarding and reconnaissance missions.
Unmanned ground vehicles have become part of the Israeli border protection system.
The goal is for the vehicle to patrol, reconnaissance, and monitor the area instead of keeping soldiers inside a vehicle vulnerable to being targeted.
Israeli sources indicate that robotic systems have become more diverse and widespread during the Gaza war, including platforms that explore tunnels and move in urban environments.
Eighth: DOGO – when the robot becomes a combat platform
There is a completely different class of robots such as DOGO, a small tracked robot designed by the Israeli company General Robotics.
DOGO is not just a reconnaissance robot, it is designed to be a tactical platform that can carry weapons systems and surveillance equipment.
But we must be careful here: not everything that the platform can carry means that it was actually used in every war or inside tunnels.
This is an important point because some weapons companies’ propaganda materials display future or experimental capabilities, while actual operational use may be secret or limited.
Ninth: ROOK — a robot weighing 1.2 tons
Israeli robots do not stop at a few kilograms.
There is also ROOK, a 6×6 unmanned ground vehicle developed by Elbit Systems and Robotem.
Basic weight:
Approximately 1,200 kg.
And the payload:
Up to an additional 1,200 kg.
That is, the vehicle can carry approximately its own weight.
Its maximum speed is approximately:
30 km/h
With operating capacity up to:
8 hours in hybrid configuration.
They can be used for reconnaissance, logistical transport, and the evacuation of the wounded, in addition to carrying other systems.
Here we see Israel moving from a small robot that enters a room to a robotic vehicle that can carry equipment, troops, ammunition, or reconnaissance systems.
Tenth: ROBATTLE and the larger system
Israel is also working on a larger concept, ROBATTLE, a multi-mission robotic ground platform that can be equipped with:
With reconnaissance devices.
Radars.
Robotic arms.
Detectors.
Remotely controlled weapons systems.
The Israeli Aerospace Industries system also includes a whole family of robotic systems: PANDA for engineering, SAHAR for package detection, RoboCon for logistical support, and GUARDIUM for border and facility protection.
How does the system work inside a building where fighters are suspected?
This is perhaps the most important point in the matter.
Israel does not rely on one robot to do everything.
Rather, the following sequence can be imagined:
Drone, building identification, ground robot, door or window entry, video transmission, room identification, motion or people detection, troop dispatch.
In some cases, robots can perform the initial reconnaissance mission, so that soldiers know:
Number of entrances.
Corridor shape.
The presence of obstacles.
Presence of suspicious objects.
The presence of a person or movement.
The presence of a package or weapon.
This radically changes the nature of fighting inside cities.
What about Lebanon?
There is strong evidence that Israel uses robotic systems in Gaza, and that the Israeli army possesses systems dedicated to tunnels, bombs, and engineering.
But there is much less open information proving the name of each robot and the location of its use in Lebanon during recent operations, because operational details related to the Israeli army and the Lebanese border are usually not fully disclosed.
However, the Israeli army has previous experience dealing with Hezbollah tunnels, and its engineering and robotic systems are specifically designed to operate in high-risk environments.
This makes southern Lebanon a different testing environment from Gaza: rocks, mountainous terrain, depth, wide distances, branching tunnels, and the possibility of communications outages are all more difficult challenges for small robots.
Weakness: The robot is not a super soldier
Despite all this development, talk about an “army of robots” should not turn into a technical myth.
Robots face real problems:
Communications:
If communication is lost or the signal is weak inside the tunnels, control becomes more difficult.
Terrain:
The wheeled robot may encounter rubble, potholes, or narrow passages.
Dust and smoke:
Cameras and sensors are affected by the environment.
Battery:
The small robot is limited in time compared to traditional vehicles.
Underground navigation:
GPS does not work normally inside tunnels.
Jamming:
Electronic warfare can affect wireless links.
Interpretation:
The camera may see an object, but it does not necessarily mean that the system knows what this object is.
This is why Israel still uses humans in the final circle of decision-making and engineering combat, even if it tries to keep humans as far away from danger as possible.
The most telling number: tens of thousands
If we want to measure the size of the Israeli transformation, the most interesting number is not the weight of the MTGR or the speed of the D9.
It is what the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced the deployment of tens of thousands of autonomous systems during the 2023-2025 war.
But it must be emphasized again: This number does not mean tens of thousands of armed ground robots. It includes multiple autonomous systems, especially drones and various robotic systems.
The number publicly known for some specific systems is much smaller, and Israel often does not reveal how many are actually in service.
Finally, Israel is not replacing the soldier with a single robot, but rather building a “robot chain.”
Real progress is not a robot with a camera.
Development in integrating dozens of systems into one network:
The march is seen from above.
The sensor searches underground.
IRIS or MTGR enters the corridor.
AGAMIT helps draw the map.
EOD robot handles the suspicious object.
The PANDA/D9 robot opens the way and removes obstacles.
ROOK carries equipment and supplies.
Artificial intelligence integrates data.
Then the soldier arrives at the place after he knows to a greater extent what awaits him behind the door or inside the tunnel.
This is the most dangerous transformation in modern warfare: the goal is no longer just to protect the soldier with armor, but rather to try to prevent the soldier from entering the danger zone in the first place.
In Gaza, the tunnels were the largest laboratory for this transformation. In Lebanon, the mountainous environment and more complex tunnel networks may be the most difficult test for this technology.
The strategic question that imposes itself is: Can Israeli robots transform the tunnel war in Lebanon from a battle of human attrition into a battle of remote sensing and engineering? after? The answer is not settled, because technology gives Israel a significant advantage in reconnaissance and engineering, but it does not eliminate the limitations of connectivity, depth, terrain, and human complexity of tunnels.
