Operation No. 2000: Hezbollah publishes footage of Hermes 900 downing
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Hezbollah announced Saturday that it shot down an Israeli Hermes 900 drone over southern Lebanon using a surface-to-air missile.
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A screen grab from a video posted by the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon depicting the downing of an Israeli Hermes 900 drone on June 1st, 2024 (Military Media)
The military media of the Lebanese resistance, Hezbollah, published footage of Operation No. 2000, among the total of its operations carried out against various targets belonging to the Israeli occupation in northern occupied Palestine, within the framework of supporting the Palestinian people in Gaza and supporting their resistance, as well as in response to the Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
The video footage uses a thermal camera to show the moment the resistance began monitoring the Israeli Hermes 900 drone and the exact moment a missile targeted the drone before it burned and crashed in Lebanese territory.
The military media video included scenes captured by the cameras of Lebanese citizens in the southern regions, where the drone appeared clearly in the air as it was hit before it fell.
The scenes also showed the wreckage of the drone after it was seized.
"العملية رقم 2000"#الإعلام_الحربي في #المقاومة_الإسلامية يعرض مشاهد من عملية إسقاط المقاومة طائرة مسيّرة معادية تابعة لـ "جيش" الاحتلال الإسرائيلي من نوع "HERMES 900" في الأجواء اللبنانية.#لبنان #الميادين_لبنان pic.twitter.com/2nuVk4FfDl
— الميادين لبنان (@mayadeenlebanon) June 1, 2024
Hezbollah announced Saturday that it shot down an Israeli Hermes 900 drone over southern Lebanon using a surface-to-air missile and it was later declared to have been a hostile Hermes 900 high-payload drone.
The drone was said to have been shot down over the southern Lebanese town of Deir Kifa.
Israeli media in April recognized Hezbollah's downing of Hermes 900 drones as something that has been happening for the first time," emphasizing that Hezbollah's downing of the Hermes 900 is a reminder that "Israeli army drones are not immune."
In this context, Haaretz recognized Hezbollah's air defense capabilities, which allowed it to shoot down Israeli drones, including not only the Kochav but also a Zik drone, otherwise known as Hermes 450 drone, which was downed back in February.
مراسل #الميادين في #جنوب_لبنان:
— الميادين لبنان (@mayadeenlebanon) June 1, 2024
"إصابة مباشرة لمسيّرة إسرائيلية بصاروخ أرض - جو في أجواء الجنوب".@AlMayadeenNews #الميادين_لبنان #لبنان pic.twitter.com/V15CS1wQ62
The Hermes 900, also known as "Kochav", is designed and manufactured by the Israeli security technology company Elbit Systems and is primarily used for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance (ISTAR), and aerial reconnaissance missions.
It is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV with a wingspan of 15 meters (49 feet). It has a maximum takeoff weight of around 1,180 kilograms (2,600 pounds).
Operated by Squadron 166 of the Israeli Air Force, the Hermes 900 weighs 970 kg, enjoys a maximum payload weight of 350 kg, and reaches a maximum altitude of 30,000 feet.
The drone is equipped with various sensors and payloads, including electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), maritime patrol radar, signals intelligence (SIGINT) systems, and electronic warfare (EW) capabilities.
The Hermes 900 enjoys a maximum flight endurance of up to 36 hours in a single sortie, allowing it to conduct long-duration missions.
The aircraft is operated remotely from a ground control station (GCS) by a team of operators and uses secure data links for communication with the ground control station, allowing real-time control and data transmission.
The Hermes 900 entered service with the Israeli Air Force in 2012 and was used during the Israeli occupation's war on the Gaza Strip in 2014. It is the second-largest unmanned reconnaissance aircraft after the Heron TP, also known as Eitan, developed by the "Israel" Aerospace Industries.
