Israel says it intercepted Hezbollah drone

The Israeli military said on January 30th that it had intercepted a surveillance drone launched towards Israeli airspace by Hezbollah in Lebanon, Asharq Al-Awsat reported.

On January 19th, an Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement that would see Palestinian and Israeli captives released and returned to their families was put into action. But both parties have agreed to extend their ceasefire deal until February 18th.

The drone was reportedly shot down by Israel’s Defense forces. In a statement published by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), the military pinned the attack on Hezbollah. The IDF added that it had intercepted the drone using a ground-based air defense system before it entered Israel.

“The IDF will not allow terror activities by the Hezbollah terror organization in Lebanon and will act to remove any threat to Israel or its citizens,” the IDF said, noting that no warning sirens were heard during the incident.

The attack came after Israel launched a drone strike on January 28th, The Times of Israel reported. The Lebanese Health Ministry said that five people were injured in the attack, on what Israel said was a Hezbollah weapons convoy headed for southern Lebanon.

According to The Times of Israel the surveillance drone was a violation by Hezbollah of the ceasefire, which prohibits the group from operating to the south of the Litani River, 30 kilometers from Israel.

As part of the fragile ceasefire deal, all parties agreed to remove their forces from southern Lebanon within a 60-day period, The Associated Press reported. Israel’s troops are still in Lebanon.

The Associated Press, The Times of Israel, Asharq Al-Awsat