An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operated by the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group was based in Lebanon was shot down soon after crossing into Israeli air space, said the IDF Spokesperson Unit.
By Erin Viner
The incident occurred just one day after Hezbollah leader , Sheikh Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah boasted that his group now possesses the cability to convert thousands of standard rockets into precision-guided missiles and to produce drones within Lebanon due to cooperation of “experts from the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
The Hezbollah drone was tracked by air control surveillance “throughout the incident,” said the Israeli military, while vowing, “The IDF will continue to operate in order to prevent any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty.”
DF Spokesperson for Arab Media Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee posted an image of the unmanned aircraft that appeared to be a Chinese-produced quadcopter, but did not disclose how it had been downed.
The UAV was identified by Army Radio as belonging to Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Unit.
The Kan public broadcaster reported on Wednesday that the Israeli security system is heightening readiness to counter further aerial assaults from Islamic Republic, following concern that the downing of 2 bomb-laden Iranian UAVs by US forces in Iraq may have been fired at Israel.
This, following a similar advisory to American citizens in the United Arab Emirates from the US Embassy on 9 February of “a possible missile or drone strike” over Abu Dhabi, asking them to remain alert and take safety precautions.
Iran-aligned Shi’ite Muslim militia in Iraq have vowed to continue to wage terror until the remaining 2,500 American military personnel leave the country. The US is leading an international military coalition to assist Baghdad against the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group.