Israel strikes Hezbollah infrastructure in eastern Lebanon as tension escalates

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Digital Desk

2 years ago

TEL AVIV- Israel military said that it launched air strikes on eastern Lebanon early on Sunday, hitting Iran-backed group Hezbollah infrastructure sites after an Israeli drone was shot down by Hezbollah.

Reuters citing Lebanese security sources said an Israeli attack in eastern Lebanon targeted a training camp belonging to Hezbollah in the eastern city of Baalbek, near the border with Syria. The strikes targeted village of Janta and Safri town near Baalbek, the sources added.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in a statement stated that fighter jets struck a military complex and three other infrastructure sites belonging to Hezbollah leading to the escalation in the region. The sites targeted overnight belonged to Hezbollah’s air defense unit in northeastern Baalbek.

Sources in Lebanon’s Civil Defense Department told international media there were no casualties from the strikes.

Israeli forces on Telegram said the strikes were “in retaliation for the attack in which an Israel Defense Forces drone was shot down over southern Lebanon” by a surface-to-air missile on Saturday. The Iran-backed group claimed responsibility for downing an Israeli drone.

Hezbollah initially said it downed an Elbit Hermes 450, but later claimed it was a Hermes 900 model. The Israeli army’s spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, said the drone crashed in Lebanese territory after being hit by a surface-to-air missile. The incident is under investigation, he said in a post on the social media platform.

Digital Desk