Lebanese traffic affected by jamming
In recent months, Lebanon's ground and air traffic has been thrown into chaos by GPS signal jamming, the source of which is suspected to be Israel. Israel's jamming has not only affected Lebanon's ground traffic, but also the Lebanese aviation industry, causing unprecedented challenges for pilots and drivers in their operations.
The actual impact of GPS jamming interference: drivers and pilots face difficulties
In Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, Uber driver Hussein Khalil experienced this problem firsthand. When using GPS navigation, he found his location in the Gaza Strip many times, and sometimes even mistakenly believed that he was on the Syrian border. Similar geolocation errors occur frequently, which not only confuses drivers, but also directly affects their income.
Residents near Beirut Airport also reported that their online maps often show their location inside the airport, while the actual location may be several kilometers away. Such errors not only affect drivers' work, but also bring inconvenience to residents' daily lives.
In terms of air traffic, Fadi Hassan, director of the Lebanese Civil Aviation Authority, said that since March, pilots have been asked to rely more on ground navigation equipment rather than GPS because Israeli interference has made GPS signals no longer reliable. Hassan expressed great dissatisfaction with this situation and believed that in today's technological age, pilots should not be unable to use GPS signals when landing.
Israel's military strategy: GPS interference and deception technology
Israel's interference with GPS signals is not unintentional. The Israeli military said that this interference was carried out "for various operational needs." In addition to interference, experts also pointed out that Israel may also be using GPS deception technology, that is, sending false GPS signals to disrupt the communications and weapons operations of Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Freddy Khoueiry, a global security analyst for the Middle East and North Africa at risk intelligence firm RANE, noted that Israel's GPS jamming and spoofing techniques are primarily aimed at Hezbollah and its GPS-assisted weapons, such as drones and precision-guided missiles. These jamming prevents these weapons from operating properly or hitting their targets, further weakening Hezbollah's combat capabilities in its confrontation with Israel.
Widespread impact of jamming
Israeli GPS jammer interference has affected not only ground and air traffic in Lebanon, but also other regions. According to gpsjam.org, the jamming has extended to areas such as Syria, Jordan, and even Greek Cyprus. AFP reporters reporting from Jerusalem and other areas also noted that their GPS locations were often shown in other countries hundreds of kilometers away, rather than their actual locations.
Dealing with jamming: relying on traditional navigation methods
Faced with Israeli jamming, Lebanese drivers and pilots can only rely on traditional navigation methods, such as using compasses and paper maps. Avedis Seropian, a licensed pilot, said he has gotten used to flying without GPS, but he also admitted that the lack of a GPS backup solution could lead to serious safety issues in cases of poor visibility and erroneous geolocation data.
Israel's interference with GPS signals has had a significant impact on ground and air traffic in Lebanon and its surrounding areas. Although the original intention of the interference was for military purposes, its wide range has caused greater safety risks. The Lebanese Civil Aviation Authority and local drivers are currently working hard to adapt to this new normal, but they also call on the international community to pay attention to this issue and find solutions to ensure future traffic safety.