Hezbollah claims it shot down Israeli drone as IDF says it ‘fell’
Lebanon-based terror group says it took out the unmanned device and that they now have the wreckage, as the Israeli army refuses to elaborate on how it came to be out of action
The Lebanese terror group Hezbollah has claimed it shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon.
The incident comes amid rising tensions along the border between the two countries in recent weeks.
A Hezbollah statement said the drone was downed with “suitable weapons” over the village of Ramieh and that the terrorists now have the wreckage.
The Israeli military said a “drone on a routine mission in northern Israel fell”, without elaborating on what it was doing or how it was brought down.
It said the drone was “simple” and that there was no risk of a breach of information if it fell into enemy hands.
The military said the drone fell on Sunday, not Monday, and the reason for the discrepancy was not clear.
Last month, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said his group would confront and shoot down any Israeli drones that enter Lebanese airspace, raising the potential for conflict.
Mr Nasrallah spoke after authorities said one alleged Israeli drone crashed in a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut, landing on the roof of a building that houses Hezbollah’s media office, and another exploded and crashed in a plot behind the building, causing material damage.
Last week, Israel and Hezbollah traded fire for the first time in years. Hezbollah launched anti-tank missiles at an Israeli armoured vehicle near the border, causing no casualties.
Israel retaliated with artillery fire into southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah said last week’s missile attack was retaliation for an Israeli air strike near Damascus last month that killed two of its members.
Israel said the attack thwarted an Iranian-orchestrated drone attack squad. Days after the air strike, Hezbollah said two Israeli attack drones crash-landed in Beirut.
Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006. Israel considers the group its most immediate threat.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
