Israel Shoots Down Drone from Lebanon, Military Says

Israeli soldiers watch as Hezbollah supporters mark the "Liberation Day", the 23rd anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 25, 2000, on the Lebanese-Israeli border in the southern village of Kfar Kila, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (AP)

Israel shot down a drone that had crossed over from Lebanon on Thursday, its military said in a statement.

"A short while ago, IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers identified and downed a drone crossing from Lebanese territory into Israeli territory towards the town of Zar'it," the military said.

It did not immediately identify who had sent the drone from Lebanon and released a photo of a UAV lying in a thicket of thorns. "The IDF will continue to prevent any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty," the military said.

Last month, Israel said Lebanese armed group Hezbollah was behind a rare roadside bomb attack that wounded a motorist in northern Israel in March, and in the past has said it shot down the group's drones.

Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel fought a month-long war in 2006 and have traded fire on several occasions since but have avoided a large-scale confrontation.