Israel intercepted a drone following a new wave of Hezbollah attacks against its border positions

The terrorist group Hezbollah claimed this Wednesday that it launched a series of attacks against Israeli forces deployed in southern Lebanon, in a new escalation of tension after the recent Israeli bombing of Beirut against a commander of the Radwan Force. Hours later, the Israeli Army reported that it intercepted a "suspicious aerial target" that had been launched from Lebanese territory towards northern Israel. According to the statement released by the Iranian-backed terrorist organization, its fighters carried out 17 operations against Israeli positions in different locations in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah indicated that it used drones and rockets to attack concentrations of soldiers and military vehicles in areas such as Qantara, Biyyada, Taybeh, Naqoura, Rishaf and Aita al-Shaab.

The group also claimed to have attacked specific military equipment. Among the actions mentioned is an alleged drone strike against an armored personnel carrier in Qaouzah and another against a recently installed command center in Qantara.

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Hezbollah claimed to have launched 17 offensives with drones and rockets against Israeli troops deployed in southern Lebanon (EFE)

The Israel Defense Forces subsequently confirmed the interception of an aerial threat from Lebanon during the early hours of this Thursday. The army indicated that the air raid sirens were activated in the towns of Manara, Margaliot and Kiryat Shmona due to the risk of falling debris after the interception. “The army intercepted a suspicious aerial target launched from Lebanon towards Israeli territory”, the military statement said. The authorities also specified that no casualties or material damage were reported after the incident. The new Hezbollah offensive came hours after the Israeli attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut, the first on the Lebanese capital since the ceasefire came into effect on April 16. Israel confirmed that the objective of that operation was the Radwan Force commander, considered the elite unit of the terrorist group.

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The bombing was directed against the Dahiyeh area, a Hezbollah stronghold on the outskirts of Beirut. In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz indicated that the offensive sought to "eliminate" the head of that armed structure. Israel bombed Beirut for the first time since the ceasefire and targeted the head of Hezbollah's Radwan Force. “The operatives of that unit were responsible for firing at Israeli communities and harming soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces”, both officials stated. They also emphasized that they will continue to act against Hezbollah members involved in attacks against Israeli territory. "There is no terrorist with immunity. Israel's long arm will reach every enemy and assassin," Netanyahu and Katz indicated. In the same vein, they insisted that the government will maintain the necessary operations to guarantee the security of the populations in the north of the country. The exchange of attacks demonstrates the fragility of the cessation of hostilities agreed weeks ago between Israel and Lebanon. Although the truce partially reduced the intensity of the fighting, the clashes in southern Lebanon continued almost daily. Israel maintains that Hezbollah continues to use southern Lebanon as a platform to launch attacks against Israeli border communities. The Tehran-backed group, for its part, maintains an active armed presence in several areas near the border and refuses to modify its military positions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a press conference The alarms activated in northern Israel during the early hours reflected the state of permanent alert that the region faces since the beginning of the escalation. Israeli forces reinforced their air defense systems and maintain constant surveillance over possible launches of drones or projectiles from Lebanese territory. The current scenario also complicates the political negotiations that sought to consolidate the ceasefire reached in April. Among the main points of conflict remain the Israeli military presence in sectors of southern Lebanon and Hezbollah's refusal to disarm or accept new security conditions on the border.