In a significant escalation in the Lebanese airspace, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the downing of one of its drones after being targeted by a surface-to-air missile.
The incident, involving a drone operating over Lebanon, occurred when Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, successfully shot down the aircraft, resulting in its crash on Lebanese soil.
Hezbollah released video footage showing the downing of the Israeli Hermes 450 drone in the skies over the Ain Ebel area in southern Lebanon.
The group claimed the drone was conducting offensive operations against Lebanese civilians. In retaliation, the IDF stated that its air force had launched strikes targeting the missile launch site in Lebanon.
Further escalating the situation, Hezbollah announced it had attacked two Israeli military sites in Western Galilee on Monday. According to the group, its fighters struck an Israeli soldier assembly near the Duhaira military site with rockets and shelled another group of soldiers near the Hanita site using artillery.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported that Israeli fighter jets responded with two airstrikes near the town of Ain Ebel and the Jabour Hills area in southern Lebanon. Additionally, the vicinity of the town of Duhaira was subjected to Israeli artillery fire.
This confrontation follows a series of attacks by Hezbollah on Sunday, targeting seven Israeli sites. Hezbollah detailed its operations, stating it had shelled the vicinities of the Jal al-Alam and Al-Asi sites, as well as buildings used by Israeli soldiers in the Shomera and Matlul settlements. The group also targeted the vicinity of Dovev barracks and the military sites at Malkiya and Misgav Am.
The ongoing exchanges mark a severe uptick in hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, highlighting the volatile situation along the Israeli-Lebanese border and the potential for further escalation.
This report underscores the continued tension and instability in the region, reflecting the high stakes involved in the Israeli-Lebanese conflict, particularly with the involvement of advanced unmanned aerial vehicles and the strategic targeting of military assets on both sides.
