The Lebanese Islamic Resistance - Hezbollah announced this morning that they had downed a multi-purpose Israeli Hermes 450 combat drone. 

In a statement, the Resistance revealed that its fighters had downed the Hermes 450 drone with a surface-to-air missile at 1:45 am today November 18, 2023. 

حزب‌الله لبنان یک پهپاد از نوع هرمس ۴۵۰ ارتش رژیم صهیونیستی را بر فراز شمال فلسطین اشغالی با موشک زمین به هوا سرنگون کرد pic.twitter.com/JvGL6V3LfD

— خبرگزاری ایرنا (@IRNA_1313) November 18, 2023

The statement revealed that the wreckage of the Israeli drone was observed falling over "al-Jalil Panhandle".  

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon stated that the resistance shot down an Israeli Hermes 450 drone, which is known as a multi-mission combat drone.

The drone has an endurance of over 20 hours, with a primary mission of reconnaissance, surveillance, and communications relay. pic.twitter.com/MOFBZrNc9n

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 18, 2023

The Lebanese Resistance specified that the operation was carried out in support of the resilient Palestenian people in Gaza and in solidarity with their valiant Resistance. 

What is Hermes 450? What message does targeting it hold?

Al Mayadeen's military and strategic affairs commentator, Charles Abi Nader, explained that the drone downed by the Lebanese Resistance is a reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft that also serves as a combat drone.  

Abi Nader confirmed that the Hermes 450 drone is an advanced aircraft with a flight duration of up to 20 hours, noting that "this is a unique feature, as it is a very long duration for reconnaissance and combat operations."

He added that one of its features is its ability to fire at targets from a long range (as far as 200km) with guided or semi-guided missiles. 

Abi Nader described this military development as being an anticipated one in light of the introduction of advanced weapons by the Lebanese Resistance, which indicated a steady trend of escalation. 

He also emphasized that downing an aircraft like this requires a level of sophisticated skills, pointing to a development in Hezbollah's air defense capabilities.

Abi Nader described this as a significant and fundamental shift, noting that this operation is ominous for "Israel", especially since it was conducted on the northern front which has been under great pressure recently after all ground surveillance devices have been put out of order by Resistance operation, in addition to the retreat of armored vehicles tasked with overseeing and monitoring.

According to him, this achievement has served as a blow to the enemy's security structure on this front. The relative retreat of infantry and armored vehicles and the destruction of surveillance devices have prompted the occupation to rely heavily on drones, which Hezbollah has shown can be rendered ineffective. 

Read more: US occupation bases, forces attacked 61 times since October 7

Operations overview

Yesterday, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon conducted 13 operations against the IOF sites, vehicles, and gatherings along the borders of occupied Palestine. 

All in all, the Islamic Resistance fighters carried out 13 operations on November 17. Here are the ones announced by the military media in chronological order (time is in GMT+2):

- At 10:30, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli troops near the Tayhat triangle.

- At 10:30, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli troops near the "Ramim" Barracks.

- At 10:30, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli troops near the al-Marj military site.

- At 11:30, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted al-Malikiyah military site.

- At 13:00, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli troops in the settlement of "Yaraon".

- At 13:25, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli troops in al-Dhayrah.

- At 14:00, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli troops near the "Metulla" military site using two loitering munitions.

- At 14:40, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the al-Assi military site.

- At 14:55, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the Israeli occupation's Birket Risha site.

- At 15:00, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli troops in the vicinity of al-Raheb site.

- At 15:30, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a mechanized Israeli infantry unit in the "Menara" plains.

- At 16:35, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a tank in the parameter of the headquarters of Unit 91 in "Biranit".

- At 19:00, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the Roueissat al-Alam site with appropriate weapons and achieved direct hits.

Read more: Eyewitnesses: bodies scattered after new IOF massacre in Gaza City