Palestinians protesting along the Gaza border are attaching burning material to kites to fly over the fence into Israel in a new tactic as demonstrations enter their fourth week. The kites have started vegetation fires in wheat fields, forests, and towns.
In an attempt to mitigate the threat, the Israel Defense Forces have developed a new gunsight that should make it easier for soldiers to shoot down kites sent across the border.
Interestingly this is not a new use for kites. The Imperial Chinese used them to carry both flammable and other material over the walls of cities they were besieging. They also used them for carrying human observers aloft during battle.
The allies in WW1 also used them for carrying artillery spotters using trains of Cody Box Kites!!!
Something old something new