The IDF struck Hezbollah terror targets deep inside Lebanon on Monday afternoon, the military announced.
At least two simultaneous strikes hit around Lebanon’s city of Baalbek, two security sources told Reuters, in the first bombardment of eastern Lebanon since regional hostilities erupted following the start of the war in Gaza.
Two Hezbollah operatives were killed in that attack, security sources told Reuters.
An Israeli man was injured by a barrage of rockets fired at Moshav Shtula by Hezbollah on Monday.
Earlier on Monday, Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it had shot down an Israeli Hermes 450 drone over Lebanese territory with a surface-to-air missile, the second time it has announced a downing of this type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The Hermes 450 is a multi-payload drone made by Elbit Systems, an Israel-based weapons manufacturer.
The Israeli military earlier stated on Monday that two missile launches had targeted an Israeli Air Force UAV operating over Lebanon. The first, it said, was intercepted by Israel’s “David’s Sling” Aerial Defense System but the drone “fell inside Lebanese territory” after a second launch.
“The ‘David’s Sling’ Aerial Defense System intercepted a surface-to-air missile that was fired toward an Israeli Air Force UAV operating in Lebanon,” the IDF said in a statement. “Following the launch of the interceptor, sirens were sounded in the area of Alon Tavor in northern Israel. No injuries were reported.
“A short while after, an additional missile launch toward the UAV was identified and the UAV fell inside Lebanese territory.
“The IDF will continue operating to defend the State of Israel from the threat of Hezbollah terrorist organization, including in aerial operations above Lebanese territory.”
Not the first drone incident, but the first of this type
Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has said it has downed or seized control of several Israeli drones in the months since it began exchanging fire with the Israeli military across Lebanon’s southern border in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas, which attacked Israel on October 7, triggering the Gaza war.
The Lebanese jihadist group first said it downed an Israeli Hermes 450 drone in November. In recent weeks, Hezbollah said it has seized control of several Skylark drones, which are smaller surveillance drones also made by Elbit.
Hezbollah has used surface-to-air missiles on several occasions since October 7 to target Israeli aircraft. It has also launched its own surveillance drones into northern Israel.
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