The Israel-Gaza Strip border. Photo: Mary Madigan via Wikimedia Commons.

The IDF is preparing to deploy a fleet of small drones to combat the use of incendiary kites and balloons by Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip, the Hebrew news site Walla reported on Thursday.

Incendiary devices, though crude, have caused millions of shekels in damage in the Gaza border area since Hamas-orchestrated riots began there last March.

According to Walla, the IDF on Wednesday began a series of tests with small drones designed to thwart the threat.

The relatively small drones are hovering models that employ multiple rotors to stay airborne. They will be used both to locate incoming balloons and to destroy them. After the balloons are identified, a drone operator will direct their drone to the devices and blow them up before they reach Israeli territory.