BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Hezbollah claimed it shot down an Israeli drone on Monday, while the Israeli military confirmed a drone had been downed, amid near-daily cross-border attacks between the group and Israel.
According to Hezbollah, the downed drone was identified as a Hermes 900 armed with missiles, allegedly intended for attacks on Lebanese territories. The group stated that its fighters used air defense weapons to intercept the drone’s operation.
This incident adds to a series of reported drone downings by Hezbollah since the commencement of border skirmishes, including drones identified as Hermes 450s or Hermes 900s.
The Israeli military acknowledged that one of its drones had indeed been shot down, revealing that a surface-to-air missile was launched towards an Israeli Air Force UAV operating in Lebanese airspace. The drone sustained damage and fell within Lebanese territory, as per the Israeli military’s statement.
The recent exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces has intensified in recent weeks, resulting in multiple brush fires on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah has increased its use of drones to target Israeli military positions, while Israel has responded with targeted strikes against Hezbollah fighters and their allies, including attacks on vehicles and motorbikes.
Last Thursday, Hezbollah used anti-aircraft missiles against Israeli fighter jets for the first time.
More than eight months of cross-border violence, which began on October 8, has killed 459 people in Lebanon, according to an AFP tally. On the Israeli side of the border, at least 15 soldiers have been killed, according to the army.
