Residents and activists in southern Lebanon say Israeli occupation drones are broadcasting recordings of crying children, distressed women, and emergency sirens over civilian areas, creating fear and confusion in communities already living under constant surveillance and military pressure. Witnesses describe the tactic as a form of psychological warfare aimed at unsettling civilians and luring people into the open.
According to residents interviewed by regional media, the drones often quadcopters flying at low altitude have repeatedly transmitted prerecorded sounds during both day and night. Reports describe recordings of children screaming for help, women calling out in distress, ambulance sirens, and even religious recitations echoing across villages in southern Lebanon.
Locals say the broadcasts have become a recurring feature of daily life. The sounds are often realistic enough to prompt concern from nearby residents, who initially believe someone is in danger before realizing the noises are coming from drones overhead. Community leaders and activists argue that the practice is intended to spread fear and keep civilians in a constant state of anxiety.
The reports have drawn comparisons to similar activities previously documented in Gaza, where witnesses and human rights monitors described drones broadcasting the sounds of crying babies and distressed women. In those incidents, residents alleged that civilians responding to the sounds were exposed to danger after leaving their homes.
Human rights advocates have condemned the reported broadcasts, arguing that turning sounds associated with children, medical emergencies, and civilian distress into military tools deepens psychological trauma among populations already affected by war and displacement. Southern Lebanon has faced continuous drone activity, airstrikes, and repeated military escalation in recent months.
This adds to growing concerns about the use of technology not only for surveillance and targeting but also for psychological operations against civilian populations. For many residents of southern Lebanon, the constant presence of drones has transformed ordinary sounds of distress into sources of fear, uncertainty, and suspicion.
