The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as Unifil, reported that it shot down an Israeli drone on Sunday during a patrol in the southern region of Lebanon. This incident occurred near the border town of Kfar Kila, where Unifil stated the drone was acting in an “aggressive manner,” prompting the application of necessary defensive measures.
In contrast, the Israeli military characterized the drone’s activity as routine intelligence-gathering. A spokesperson from the Israeli military, Lt Col Nadav Shoshani, indicated that an initial inquiry suggested Unifil forces deliberately targeted the drone, asserting that its operation did not pose a threat to Unifil.
Following the drone’s downing, Israeli forces reportedly dropped a grenade in the area where the drone fell. Lt Col Shoshani emphasized that no fire was directed at Unifil personnel, and the incident is currently under review through military coordination channels. Unifil indicated that the grenade was dropped by a different Israeli drone near its patrol.
Despite a ceasefire established last November to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, incidents involving Israeli drones and airstrikes in Lebanon persist. Israel maintains that these actions are necessary to prevent Hezbollah from reorganizing and rearming. The UN and the Lebanese government assert that such actions by Israel violate Lebanon’s sovereignty and breach the ceasefire agreement.
The downing of the drone is notable, as Unifil, which has been operating in Lebanon since 1978, infrequently engages in such actions. The last recorded incident occurred in October 2024 when a German vessel within Unifil intercepted a drone off Lebanon’s coast. As diplomatic efforts intensify to reinforce the ceasefire and establish state authority in southern Lebanon, further discussions involving US and French officials are anticipated.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjw9n1d7njyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss