Israel Bombs Site of Crashed Drone in South Lebanon
An Israeli spy drone crashed Saturday morning in an area between the southern Lebanese towns of Baraashit and Beit Yahoun in the Bint Jbeil district, Lebanon's National News Agency said.
Another Israeli drone later bombed the site of the crash in Baraashit's outskirts, which resulted in the full destruction of the first drone, NNA said.
"Two missiles fell from it but did not explode. A Lebanese Army force later detonated them as security forces and UNIFIL peacekeepers cordoned off the area," the agency added.
The Israeli army said the drone crashed because of a technical failure.
It added that the incident is being investigated but that there was no risk of any sensitive information being leaked.
Israel typically uses its unmanned aerial vehicles to conduct surveillance and gather intelligence along its borders. The drones have become a regular part of modern warfare and Israel in February shot down an Iranian one that infiltrated its airspace.
In September, Israel shot down a Hizbullah surveillance drone that veered too close to the Syrian border with Israel. Its army said the unmanned aircraft was Iranian-made and launched from a Damascus airport before it was shot down near the Israeli-occupied side of the Golan Heights.
Israel and Hizbullah fought a monthlong war in 2006.
Source: Naharnet, Associated Press
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