(Beirut) The Lebanese Islamist movement Hezbollah announced Monday that it had shot down a new Israeli Hermes-type drone over Lebanon, the fifth since February, the Israeli army having confirmed the destruction of one of its devices.
Since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas on October 7, the powerful pro-Iranian Hezbollah has regularly exchanged fire with the Israeli army, in support of its Palestinian ally.
In a statement, Hezbollah announced that its “anti-aircraft defense” “shot down a Hermes 900 drone equipped with missiles that was preparing to carry out attacks against our regions.”
The Israeli military confirmed that a “surface-to-air missile was launched towards a drone that was operating in Lebanese airspace,” adding that the drone “was damaged and fell into Lebanese territory.”
This is the fifth Hermes 450 or 900 type drone that Hezbollah announces having shot down since February.
Previously, the Israeli army had responded after its aircraft were shot down, including by bombing Hezbollah targets, sometimes deep into Lebanese territory.
On Monday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for several attacks, including one using a “drone squadron” against an Israeli position in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
This type of attack caused major fires last week in northern Israel and the Golan.
Last Thursday, Hezbollah also announced for the first time that it had used air defense missiles against Israeli combat planes.
More than eight months of violence have left at least 459 dead in Lebanon, including around 90 civilians and nearly 300 Hezbollah fighters. On the Israeli side, at least 15 soldiers and 11 civilians were killed, according to authorities.