Hezbollah publishes drone footage of Ramat David Airbase in north
Video features details on air force squadrons at base located some 50 kilometers from Lebanon border; military downplays clip, says base not harmed
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The Hezbollah terror group published a new propaganda video on Wednesday from what it said was one of its reconnaissance drones flying over the Ramat David Airbase in northern Israel.
It was the latest in a series of videos published by Hezbollah showing footage from sensitive sites in northern Israel, filmed by drones that apparently went undetected by the Israeli Air Force’s air defense systems.
According to Hezbollah, the eight-and-a-half-minute-long video of the airbase, located some 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the Lebanon border, was recorded a day earlier.
The video included purported details of the IAF squadrons at the airbase, the locations of reinforced aircraft shelters, ammunition warehouses, and air defense systems, as well as the identity of the base’s commander — Col. Asaf Eshed.
The video also included several clips of the airbase filmed at night.
The airbase is believed to house three F-16 fighter jet squadrons, a drone squadron, and a squadron of S565 Panther helicopters used for missions at sea.
The Hezbollah terror group has published a new propaganda video taken by one of its drones, showing the Ramat David Airbase in northern Israel.
According to Hezbollah, the video was taken yesterday.
There is no immediate comment from the IDF on the footage.
Hezbollah has… pic.twitter.com/LqKrssCRX5
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) July 24, 2024
The Israel Defense Forces downplayed the video, saying in a statement that the “activity of the base was not harmed.”
“The video released by Hezbollah was filmed by an unmanned aerial vehicle for photography purposes only,” the IDF said.
The military said it has been operating against Hezbollah’s aerial forces, striking hundreds of sites belonging to the unit in Lebanon in recent months.
“The Air Force uses all means to protect the skies of the State of Israel and will continue to do so,” the IDF added.
The military did not elaborate on whether it had been aware of the drone that flew over the airbase.
Earlier this month, Hezbollah published a drone video showing Israeli military sites in the Golan Heights, and before that, in June, it released a video showing the Haifa area.
Hezbollah has said it will release footage showing the northern cities of Safed and Tiberias in a future video.
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.
Earlier this week, The Times of Israel learned that the Israeli Air Force was preparing to redeploy gun-based air defense systems to counter Hezbollah’s drones.
The IDF previously used the Vulcan, which was retired in 2006. It was not clear which system the IAF is planning to use now.
The ground-based systems would potentially be deployed to defend specific points, such as military bases or sensitive infrastructure, against Hezbollah drones. Gun-based systems are not effective at covering wide areas.
Until now, the IDF has used the Iron Dome air defense system and fighter jets, both using missiles, to shoot down Hezbollah drones.
Israeli Air Force officials have said the most challenging part of countering Hezbollah’s drones was identifying them in the first place.
The skirmishes along the Israel-Lebanon border began on October 8, when Hezbollah-led forces began attacking Israeli communities and military posts in what the group said was a show of support for Gaza amid the war there.
So far, the daily clashes 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 374 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.
