Hezbollah Downs Second Israeli Drone in One Day, Targets Israeli Positions
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah shot down two advanced Israeli drones on Tuesday, while launching a series of attacks on Israeli military positions in southern Lebanon and occupied Palestine.
The resistance group's operation come in solidarity with Palestinians and in defense of Lebanon, following Israel's intensifying its genocidal war in Gaza and Lebanon.
Hezbollah announced that it downed a Hermes 450 drone on Tuesday, stating the drone was seen “burning in the skies of occupied Palestine” after the operation.
Earlier that day, the group also shot down a similar drone over southern Lebanon.
The Hermes 450, produced by Israel’s Elbit company, is a reconnaissance and surveillance drone with a flight endurance of over 20 hours.
It has a wingspan of 10.6 meters, weighs 550 kilograms, and can carry up to four missiles for offensive operations.
In addition to the drone operations, Hezbollah targeted multiple Israeli military positions, including the Naftali base near Safad, the Israeli artillery in the Dishon area, and the Zaoura artillery position in occupied Palestine.
The group also struck an Israeli Merkava tank with a guided missile as it advanced near Ramia in southern Lebanon, killing and wounding its occupants, and hit Israeli forces gathered near Aita al-Shaab.
“These operations are in support of our steadfast Palestinian people in Gaza and in defense of Lebanon and its people,” Hezbollah stated.
Since last October, Hezbollah has carried out hundreds of strikes against Israeli targets, in response to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza and its escalated attacks on Lebanon.
The conflict has so far resulted in over 42,300 Palestinian deaths and more than 2,300 Lebanese casualties.
On Tuesday, Israel intensified its attacks on southern Lebanon, bombing the town of Qana and killing 10 people while injuring 15.
Israel also used internationally banned cluster bombs in three other areas in the south and targeted Riyaq in eastern Lebanon, killing five people, including three children, and injuring 16 others.
Hezbollah condemned Israel’s use of prohibited munitions, stating it “underscores the enemy’s blatant failure on the battlefield in direct confrontations with the fighters of the Islamic Resistance.”
