Israeli forces gun down drones over Mediterranean Sea amid rising tensions with Hezbollah and Hamas
Tel Aviv: The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) intercepted two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the Mediterranean Sea on Sunday.
A missile ship successfully neutralized the drones, which were launched from the east in the northern sea region. Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force intercepted a third drone near the coast of Gush Dan.
These defensive measures come as Israel continues military operations against Hezbollah and Hamas in Lebanon.
לפני זמן קצר, ספינת טילים של זרוע הים יירטה בהצלחה בים התיכון במרחב הימי הצפוני, שני כלי טיס בלתי מאוישים ששוגרו מכיוון מזרח, אין נפגעים.
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) October 6, 2024
בנוסף, חיל האוויר יירט כלי טיס בלתי מאויש ששוגר מכיוון מזרח, במרחב הימי מול חופי גוש דן, אין נפגעים>> pic.twitter.com/VEKlgPmpDN
The region has seen escalating violence, with Israeli forces expanding bombardment in Beirut’s southern suburbs and targeting militant positions in a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon.
Explosions rocked areas linked to Hezbollah and Hamas, including the Beddawi camp, where Israeli strikes led to the deaths of a Hamas official, his wife, and their two young daughters.
Another Hamas member was killed in the eastern Bekaa Valley during the strikes.
As the conflict intensifies, thousands of people in Lebanon, including Palestinian refugees, are fleeing their homes.
The situation grows more dire ahead of Monday, when Israel will commemorate the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on October 7.
The attack, which marked the beginning of the Gaza conflict, resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mainly civilians.
Since then, Israel’s retaliatory strikes in Gaza have claimed over 41,825 lives, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The figures have been confirmed by the UN, highlighting the heavy civilian toll in the ongoing crisis.