Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group in Lebanon, announced on Monday that it had successfully downed an Israeli drone in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel. In a statement, the group stated that it shot down the drone after it entered Lebanese airspace near Zibqin in the south. No further details were provided by Hezbollah regarding the incident.
The Israeli military, on the other hand, acknowledged that one of its drones had fallen in Lebanese territory during routine activity. They assured that there was no risk of data being compromised from the drone, as reported by Reuters.
This recent incident comes amidst heightened tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border, particularly in the disputed area known as Shebaa Farms. Over the past few weeks, there have been clashes between Israeli soldiers and Lebanese protesters in the region. The Israeli military had to disperse the demonstrators using tear gas, while the protesters retaliated by pelting stones at the troops. Some individuals from both sides experienced breathing problems during the clashes.
The Kfar Chouba hills, where the protests took place, are claimed by Lebanon as its territory occupied by Israel since the 1967 war. Hezbollah allegedly set up two tents in this area, which Israel considers its own territory, according to Israeli media reports. However, Hezbollah has not provided any comment on these claims.
Hezbollah has conducted military exercises near the southern border with Israel in May, showcasing its military capabilities. The group has previously claimed responsibility for downing Israeli drones, while Israel’s military has reported shooting down Hezbollah drones.
The ongoing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel pose significant challenges to the stability of the region. The downing of the Israeli drone adds to the complex dynamics of the conflict and raises concerns about the potential escalation of hostilities between the two parties. The situation continues to be closely monitored by observers and stakeholders in the region.