Lebanon says army fired at intruding Israeli drone

Lebanon’s army says its forces opened fire at an Israeli drone that had violated the country’s airspace.

In a short statement on Friday, the army confirmed reports of shooting at an Israeli drone in southern regions.

“On January 13, 2023, while an army patrol was inspecting an (Israeli) violation in the outskirts of the southern town of Houla and Wadi Hounin, a drone belonging to the Israeli enemy violated the Lebanese airspace in the aforementioned area and hovered over the patrol, which promoted soldiers to open fire toward it,” reads the statement published in the army’s Twitter account.  

Lebanese forces have not provided further details about the encounter while Israeli officials have not yet reacted to the incident.

Meanwhile, citing a security source, Reuters claimed the drone was not downed.

Israeli drones and vessels regularly violate Lebanon’s borders on their spying missions despite Beirut’s warnings.

Back in October 2022, Israeli gunboats violated Lebanon’s territorial waters several times. According to Lebanon’s army, the gunboats entered several hundred meters inside the country’s waters in an area opposite Ras Naqoura in southern Lebanon.

The army said it had reported four violations to the United Nations a day earlier, adding that it is discussing them with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

MG