From the Liveblog of
Monday, December 18, 2023
IDF says it has downed more than 100 drones and cruise missiles since start of war
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The IDF says that since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip on October 7, the Israel Air Force’s air traffic control has identified and thwarted more than 100 aerial threats, including drones and cruise missiles.
The threats were downed using fighter jets and other air defenses, it says.
The IDF publishes footage showing some of the interceptions.
The Hezbollah terror group has launched several explosive-laden drones at Israel from Lebanon, and at least one from Syria.
The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have fired several cruise missiles, drones, and ballistic missiles at Israel.
In Gaza, Hamas has also carried out a number of drone attacks.
The numbers are in addition to thousands of rockets fired from Gaza.
מההפללה ועד לתקיפה: למעלה מ-100 איומים אוויריים סוכלו על ידי חיל האוויר במשימת הגנת שמי המדינה:
מתחילת הלחימה, מזהים מערך הבקרה ומערך הקרב של חיל האוויר איומים ומטרות עוינות רחוקות טווח >> pic.twitter.com/rYz6xL6qTb
— דובר צה״ל דניאל הגרי – Daniel Hagari (@IDFSpokesperson) December 18, 2023
