An Israeli drone operating over southern Lebanon was shot down by a surface-to-air missile on Monday, as confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF stated that the drone was in Lebanese airspace at the time of the incident.
Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Islamist group in Lebanon, claimed responsibility for the attack on the Israeli drone. They mentioned that the action was taken in solidarity with the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
Recent escalations between Israel and Hezbollah have led to increased cross-border attacks following a period of low-intensity conflict. The Israeli military had issued a warning last week, indicating readiness for a potential large-scale offensive along the northern border.
Furthermore, the IDF reported multiple launches of anti-tank missiles directed towards various locations in northern Israel. In response, IDF artillery was deployed to neutralize threats in the areas of Salhani, Ayta ash Shab, and Hanine in southern Lebanon.