Israeli forces fail to down Hezbollah drone which injured two troops

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Military Media
5 Aug 2024 04:04
1 Shares

Despite increased readiness, Israeli air defenses failed to down Hezbollah's drones early on Monday, which flew for tens of kilometers before impacting the 91st Division's headquarters.

Listen

Hezbollah Resistance fighters raise the party's flags during the funeral of martyr Ismail Baz, a Hezbollah fighter who was assassinated by Israeli occupation forces, in Chehabiyeh, South Lebanon, on April 17, 2024. (AP)

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah released a statement early on Monday, affirming the launching of a drone attack on an Israeli base, as it came in line with its daily responses to Israeli aggression.

Two Israeli soldiers were injured in the drone attack, which targeted the Israeli occupation forces' 91st Division headquarters in Ayelet HaShahar, one of whom was critically injured. The occupation military confirmed that a military officer and a soldier were wounded as a result of the impact of "suspicious aircraft", adding that several interceptor missiles were fired at the targets.

Israeli media outlets reported that Israeli military rescue helicopters rushed to the scene of the attack, nearly 10 kilometers away from the Israeli line of withdrawal from Lebanon, to transport the casualties.

The attack occurred at around 2:20 am (local time) and saw Hezbollah's drones surpass layers of Israeli air defenses, settlements, and military sites, before impacting the Ayelet Base.

Hezbollah's Military Media Unit released a statement affirming that the attack came in response to the Israeli aggressions and assassinations conducted in the towns of al-Bazourieh, Deir Siryan, and Houla in South Lebanon, and in support of the Palestinian people.

The unit revealed that Hezbollah's Unmanned Air Force launched a swarm of drones toward the newly set up headquarters of the 91st Division, responsible for the Northern Front with Lebanon.

Drones dove at the positions and dwelling areas of Israeli officers and soldiers in the Ayelet base, killing and injuring several.

Israeli forces fail to down Hezbollah's drones, despite increased preparedness

It is worth noting that the main headquarters for the Israeli occupation forces' 91st Division is the Biranit Base, located a few hundred meters from the Israeli line of withdrawal from South Lebanon. The base has been nearly completely evacuated after coming under dozens of attacks by the Resistance since October 8, 2023, and no longer serves as the division's headquarters.

The headquarters were then moved nearly 20 km to the east and nearly 10 km away from the Israeli line of withdrawal from Lebanon.

Moreover, Israeli media outlets reported that the two injured soldiers serve in the infamous 1st Infantry Golani Brigade. Later on Monday, Israeli media said that Hezbollah's drone operators know their way to the Golani Brigades' training field and firing range "with their eyes closed."

The attack is especially critical as it comes during a period of heightened Israeli military and security readiness in anticipation of a wide-scale response by Hezbollah to the assassination of commander martyr Fouad Shokor, who was assassinated in an Israeli strike on the Southern Suburbs of Beirut on July 30.

The fact that the drones were able to surpass layers of Israeli air defenses, while tensions are at an all-time high on the Northern Front, highlights the weak spots of Israeli defensive plans and Hezbollah's advanced military knowledge and capabilities.