Israeli Military Base Breached by Thieves who Used Drones to Gather Intel

A military base used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the country’s south was attacked by thieves who caused a blackout using drones last week.

The suspected thieves first used drones to gather intelligence at the Natan base, and then caused a blackout after targeting a power grid. Under cover of this, the thieves made their entry to carry out their planned burglary, Channel 12 news reported.

The gang was unsuccessful in their attempt to steal weapons but they reportedly managed to take other military equipment.

The report said that although the police and the military were aware of the planned burglary at the base, they did not take action to prevent it.

“Following exceptional events in the area, the base’s level of readiness was raised immediately, including strengthening security and defense targets,” the IDF said in a statement to the network. “We emphasize that no weapons were stolen from the unit and there was no damage to the generator, although a breach was identified in the fence, which was blocked immediately.

“In addition, following the identification of civilian aircraft in the base area, technological means were used in coordination with the Israel Police,” the IDF said, without giving further details.

The embarrassing breach was presumed to be the latest in a series of criminal acts by local thieves in what are meant to be heavily guarded military facilities in southern Israel.

On February 8, a suspected car thief broke into the Israeli Air Force’s Nevatim Air Base in the northern Negev Desert after abandoning a car he had allegedly stolen from the nearby town of Dimona, prompting a massive manhunt, The Times of Israel reported.

At Sdeh Teiman military base north of Beersheba city, where Natan base is located, thieves have previously stolen 20,000 bullets.