The Israeli army says it intercepted three drones fired by Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement aimed at an offshore gas field.
The Israeli military has said it intercepted three drones fired by Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement aimed at an offshore gas field in the Mediterranean.
“Three hostile drones approaching the airspace in Israel’s economic waters have been intercepted,” the army said in a statement on Saturday, adding that the drones were heading for the gas field. Karish, which is partly claimed by Lebanon.
The drones were unarmed and posed no risk, Israeli military sources said.
One drone was intercepted by a fighter jet and the other two by a warship, according to sources.
Hezbollah said on Saturday that it had launched three unarmed drones and that they had fulfilled the mission and “the message was delivered.” There was no immediate response from the Lebanese authorities to the incident.
Lebanon condemned Israel last month when a ship operated by the London-based Greek energy company Energean entered the Karish camp.
Israel claims the field is in its waters and is not part of the disputed area subject to ongoing negotiations at the maritime border.
Hezbollah warned Energean not to continue its activities.
Lebanon and Israel resumed negotiations on their maritime border in 2020, but the process was halted by Beirut’s claim that the map used by the United Nations in the talks needed to be changed.
Beirut initially demanded 860 square kilometers (330 square miles) of water that it said was in dispute, but then requested an additional 1,430 square kilometers (552 square miles), including part of the Karish camp.
Lebanon has hoped to expand offshore oil and gas production as it struggles with the worst economic crisis in its modern history.
Saturday’s interceptions were the first time an air defense system mounted on an Israeli naval ship had shot down an incoming target, the Israeli military said.
Lebanon and Israel are still technically at war and have no diplomatic relations. UN peacekeepers patrol the border.
Israel fought a devastating war with Hezbollah in 2006 and sees the Iran-backed group as one of its main enemies.