This picture shows an unmanned aerial vehicle flying over southern Israel [File: Ahmed Gharabli/AFP]
In a significant escalation of clashes on the Lebanese border, Hezbollah announced on Sunday that it had successfully shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon using a surface-to-air missile. This marked the first time that Hezbollah had publicly claimed such an incident, adding to the mounting tensions in the region. The drone was struck near Khiam, a mere 5 km (3 miles) from the Israeli border, and witnesses reported seeing it fall within Israeli territory.
Hezbollah’s declaration of downing an Israeli drone caught many by surprise, as the group had previously hinted at possessing such capabilities but had never explicitly revealed them. “They have insinuated they have this capability, but it is the first time they declare they have this kind of capability to shoot down a drone,” stated Mohanad Hage Ali, an expert from the Carnegie Middle East Center.
The Israeli Defense Ministry, however, remained unavailable for comment regarding the incident.
Earlier on Sunday, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that one of its members had sustained injuries after shells struck its base near the village of Houla on the Lebanese-Israeli border the previous day. The exchange of fire between the Israeli army and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group has been a daily occurrence since the commencement of the Gaza conflict three weeks ago.
Hezbollah disclosed that 46 of their fighters had been killed, while 43 had been injured in the borderlands so far. The group further revealed that it had conducted 84 attacks at 42 different points along the border since the clashes began. The Israeli military confirmed the deaths of at least seven of its soldiers in the ongoing conflict.
Adding to the turmoil, UNIFIL announced on Saturday that their headquarters near the Lebanese coastal town of Naqoura had also suffered damage due to a shell that landed inside the base.
Expressing deep concern over these attacks, UNIFIL took to the social media platform X, emphasizing the dedication and tireless efforts of their troops to restore stability in southern Lebanon and de-escalate the precarious situation.
As tensions continue to rise along the Lebanese border, the region remains on edge, with the potential for further clashes and an escalation of hostilities ever-present. The international community closely monitors the situation, hoping for a swift resolution and the restoration of peace in the troubled region.
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