Hezbollah downs Israeli drone in southern Lebanon
The Lebanese Hezbollah Resistance Movement announced on Saturday that it had intercepted and shot down an Israeli Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the Marjeyoun district in southern Lebanon.
According to a brief statement from Hezbollah, the drone was targeted with a surface-to-air missile by the group's air defense unit.
Following the incident, Israeli warplanes bombed Deir Siriane village in Nabatieh governorate, where the downed drone had fallen, reportedly causing significant damage to the area.
In a further escalation, Hezbollah launched a series of attacks on Israeli military and civilian sites near the border. The resistance movement claimed responsibility for missile strikes against Israeli soldiers stationed at the al-Abad military site and the illegal Manara settlement. Additional rocket attacks targeted Kiryat Shmona, Baram, Maalot Tarshiha, and Safed, as well as the Zvulon military industries base north of Haifa, causing damage to various sites.
Hezbollah stated that these operations were conducted in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and to defend Lebanon amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have intensified air operations in Lebanon, including multiple airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Lebanon's National News Agency reported at least five strikes on the neighborhoods of Borj al-Barajneh, Hadath, and Haret Hreik, with residents having been previously ordered to evacuate.
In southern Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes on the city of Tyre on Saturday left at least nine dead and dozens wounded.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported on Friday that since the beginning of hostilities on October 8, the ongoing Israeli airstrikes have resulted in 3,136 fatalities and 13,979 injuries across Lebanon, marking a significant humanitarian crisis. The conflict escalation has led to mounting casualties and heightened tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border. (ILKHA)