The Iranian connection Israel shot down Iranian-supplied Hezbollah drone in border area

Published 19 September 2017

Israel has shot down what an Iranian-supplied Hezbollah drone as it was about to cross the Syrian border into Israel. Analysts note that Hezbollah launched the drone only hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to address the UN General Assembly. In his speech he is expected to highlight the destabilizing consequences of Iran’s growing influence in the Middle East. “We have seen a significant recent rise in [Hezbollah’s] drone capability,” an Israeli military source said.

Launch of Patriot missile from mobile launcher // Source: commons.wikimedia.org

Israel has shot down what an Iranian-supplied Hezbollah drone as it was about to cross the Syrian border into Israel.

Analysts note that Hezbollah launched the drone only hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to address the UN General Assembly. In his speech he is expected to highlight the destabilizing consequences of Iran’s growing influence in the Middle East.

Ynet reports that Israeli military sources claim that the drone took off from an airfield close to the Syrian capital, Damascus, and was shot down by a Patriot missile from a battery deployed near the town of Safed in the Galilee.

Israeli military sources said the drone was intercepted in the demilitarized zone near the Syrian border towne of Quneitra.

Two Israeli fighter jets were also scrambled to the border area, and they would have intercepted the drone had the Patriot missile missed its target.

An Israeli military spokesman told the Guardian that it was not the first time Hezbollah’s Iran-supplied drones conducted reconnaissance flights near Israel’s border.

“It was detected taking off from a military airfield in Damascus and turned west before then turning and approaching the border with the demilitarized zone.

“When it crossed two jets were scrambled before it was engaged with a single Patriot missile.”

The spokesman added that it was not clear whether the drone was carrying a weapon, but that intelligence noted it had been supplied to Hezbollah by Iran.

“We have seen a significant recent rise in [Hezbollah’s] drone capability,” he added.