Israeli Drone Downed Amid Rising Tensions in Lebanon

Beirut, Oct 27 (AP) The Israeli army and the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon reported the downing of an Israeli drone, but their accounts of the incident differ.

The event occurred amid increasing Israeli strikes over Lebanon, jeopardizing the fragile ceasefire that concluded the November conflict with Hezbollah. Pressure is mounting on the Lebanese government to disarm the influential organization.

Israel's recent conflict with Hezbollah commenced after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on Israel, which ignited the Gaza Strip conflict. In solidarity with Hamas and the Palestinians, Hezbollah, predominantly based in southern Lebanon, began launching rockets into Israel.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated on Monday that the drone was undertaking "routine information-gathering and reconnaissance activity" near UNIFIL peacekeeping forces in the border town of Kfar Kila. Adraee emphasized that the drone did not engage with peacekeeping troops.

Adraee explained, "After the drone was shot down, Defense Army forces deployed a hand grenade at the site of the drone's descent," via a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Contrastingly, UNIFIL claimed in a Sunday statement that an Israeli drone had flown aggressively over a UNIFIL patrol, prompting peacekeepers to take "necessary defensive countermeasures" to neutralize it.

UNIFIL reported that shortly thereafter, an Israeli drone dropped a grenade near the peacekeeping mission, and an Israeli tank fired in their direction. Fortunately, there were no peacekeeper casualties.

Established to manage the Israeli military withdrawal following the 1978 invasion, the UNIFIL mandate was broadened after the 2006 month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Earlier this year, the UN Security Council decided to conclude UNIFIL's mission by December 31, 2026. After this date, the force will have one year to wind down operations and withdraw personnel. (AP) SKS SKS