Hezbollah announced that its air defense unit successfully downed an Israeli “Hermes 900” drone last evening.
In a statement, the Lebanese group declared the action was in support of the “resilient Palestinian people in Gaza and in defense of Lebanon and its people.”
According to Russia Today‘s correspondent, there was significant activity of Israeli reconnaissance drones at low altitudes over the Lebanese capital prior to the incident.
Mid-month, Hezbollah also reported the downing of another Israeli drone, a “Hermes 450,” indicating a continued escalation in the region’s aerial confrontations.
Hezbollah launched a missile strike on an Israeli military base near Safed on Sunday, escalating tensions in the region.
The attack occurred just hours after Israeli airstrikes targeted a Hezbollah intelligence facility and an underground weapons production site in Beirut.
The missile strike hit the Filon military base, located east of Safed. Israel has not confirmed the attack.
Earlier, Israeli forces had carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a known stronghold of the group, hitting a residential building close to key civilian infrastructure.
Since the onset of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the number of fatalities in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks has reached 2,448, with 11,471 injuries, according to a report released on Saturday night.
Lebanese General Security has recorded the movement of 337,972 Syrian citizens and 138,005 Lebanese crossing into Syria since September 23, seeking safety from the ongoing violence.
Amid escalating confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah in recent weeks, Lebanon’s Acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati has stressed that the only solution is diplomacy. In an interview with Al Arabiya on Sunday, he stated, “A diplomatic solution is still on the table.”
Mikati added that “the Lebanese army must be deployed south of the Litani River.” He further emphasized the importance of sparing bloodshed and destruction and implementing UN Resolution 1701 in Lebanon, asserting, “We adhere to Resolution 1701 because it grants us stability.” He also noted that Hezbollah has agreed to Resolution 1701, although he revealed that there have been no communications with Hezbollah since mid-last month.
