Hezbollah drone apparently heading for offshore gas rig downed by Israeli Navy
IDF says drone intercepted by ship-mounted Iron Dome; unclear if unmanned aircraft was intended for surveillance or attack; separately, home damaged in rocket strike
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
A Hezbollah drone launched from Lebanon and believed to be heading toward offshore gas infrastructure in northern Israel was shot down by the Israeli Navy over Israel’s territorial waters on Saturday morning, the military said.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, one of the Navy’s Sa’ar 6-class corvettes intercepted the drone at a significant distance from the Karish gas field, and there was no threat to the critical infrastructure there amid the incident.
The drone was shot down by the ship-mounted Iron Dome system known as C-Dome.
The IDF said it was still investigating if the drone was used by Hezbollah for surveillance purposes or was laden with explosives.
In the past, the Lebanese terror group launched surveillance drones at the Karish gas field.
No sirens sounded amid the incident as no communities were threatened by the attack.
The terror group has launched more than 300 drones at Israel amid the ongoing fighting, many of them laden with explosives but also some used for surveillance. According to the military, only half were intercepted. Around 30 of the explosive drone impacts caused damage or casualties.
The group has demonstrated improved surveillance capabilities with its drone technology, having recently filmed footage of sensitive Israeli sites, including an Israeli Air Force airbase located some 50 kilometers from the border.
Also on Saturday morning, a rocket launched from Lebanon at the border community of Arab al-Aramshe damaged a home.
Another four rockets were fired at the Misgav Am area, according to the IDF.
There were no injuries in the attacks.
Incoming rocket sirens had sounded in several communities near the border with Lebanon amid the incidents.
נזק נגרם לבית מגורים מרקטה בערב אל עראמשה, אין נפגעים בגוף – הדיירים פונו עם תחילת המלחמה pic.twitter.com/RdtZm7awyl
— גלצ (@GLZRadio) July 27, 2024
Since October 8, Hezbollah-led forces have attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the border on a near-daily basis, with the group saying it is doing so to support Gaza amid the war there.
So far, the skirmishes have resulted in 12 civilian deaths on the Israeli side, as well as the deaths of 18 IDF soldiers and reservists. There have also been several attacks from Syria, without any injuries.
Hezbollah has named 377 members who have been killed by Israel during the ongoing skirmishes, mostly in Lebanon but some also in Syria. In Lebanon, another 68 operatives from other terror groups, a Lebanese soldier, and dozens of civilians have been killed.
