The Israeli Defense Forces said on Saturday that they had successfully intercepted three drones piloted by the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah heading to the Karish gas field on Israel’s Mediterranean coast.
Tensions have risen over the site in recent weeks, after a gas-producing vessel arrived in Israel to begin extraction operations in the offshore field, with the condemnation of Lebanon, which had claimed parts of it. Israel says Karish is part of its exclusive UN-recognized economic zone.
One Hezbollah plane was shot down by an F16 fighter jet and the other two by Barak 8 missiles fired from the Saar 5 INS Eilat-class Corvette, the army said in a statement.
Saturday’s incident marked the first operational interception of a drone by Barak 8 missiles from a Navy ship.
The UAVs were intercepted “at a safe distance from” the drilling rig, according to defense officials.
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Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah recently threatened Israel over its plans to extract gas from the controversial offshore reserve, saying its organization is capable of preventing such action, even by force.
Energean working at the Karish oil field on the coast of Israel in 2020. (Screenshot / YouTube)
But the military said a preliminary investigation showed the drones posed no “real threat” at any point in their flight, indicating that they were unarmed and were used for surveillance purposes or to demonstrate who had the capacity.
The terrorist group later confirmed that it had launched the three unarmed drones, saying they were destined to carry out a “reconnaissance mission” in the area.
Hezbollah added that the mission has been successfully completed and “a message was conveyed.”
The IDF said the UAVs were “identified at an early stage and monitored throughout their flight by air control units” and “intercepted at the most appropriate operating point.”
“You have permission, take out the UAV now,” a senior officer is heard saying over the phone at the Navy’s operational headquarters, in a video posted by IDF.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz responded to the incident, saying Israel was “prepared to defend its infrastructure in the face of any threat.”
“The terrorist organization Hezbollah undermines the Lebanese state’s ability to reach an agreement on the maritime border that is essential to Lebanon’s economy and citizens,” it said in a statement issued by its office.
“Israel will continue to protect its assets and considers itself obliged and entitled to act and respond to any attempt to harm it,” he added.
Lebanon and Israel – which have no diplomatic relations and are considered enemy states – have been holding US-negotiated indirect talks for nearly two years to resolve a maritime border conflict.
Talks on the field have been frozen since last year, after Lebanon tried to move its claim further to the area Israel claims as its own. Last month, the Biden administration said recent meetings between its energy envoy and Israeli and Lebanese officials had resulted in progress.
Israel and Lebanon have no diplomatic relations and are technically at war. Each claims that about 860 square kilometers (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea are within its exclusive economic zones.
Both Israel and Lebanon have economic interests in the territory, which contains lucrative natural gas. Lebanon, which has been facing an economic crisis since late 2019, sees resources as a potential way out of its current situation.
Also last month, IDF conducted a major military exercise in Cyprus, simulating a ground offensive inside Lebanon in a possible war against Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The terrorist group has long been a major adversary to the IDF, with an estimated arsenal of nearly 150,000 rockets and missiles that can reach anywhere in Israel.
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