JERUSALEM, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Israel announced Tuesday a ban on the operation of drones controlled by fiber-optic cables or cellular SIM cards throughout its airspace.
The decision was approved by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the security cabinet, a statement by Katz's office said.
The statement said the move was prompted by "specific intelligence and growing threats from enemies from within and outside," including drone attacks, attempted attacks on senior officials, intelligence gathering and smuggling.
The directive is set to take effect on Sunday and remain in force for six months, providing a temporary security measure while additional solutions are developed, it added.
The ban includes specific exemptions for drones operated by security agencies or on their behalf, as well as ground-tethered fiber-optic drones and SIM-controlled drones that have received the necessary authorization from Israel's Civil Aviation Authority.
The move is part of a broader series of Israeli measures aimed at countering drone-related threats, including import restrictions and regulatory measures. ■
