Israel says shot down Hezbollah drone

By Zain Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) – The Israeli army said Monday it had intercepted a drone fired by Lebanese group Hezbollah.

A military statement said the drone had crossed into Israel but was shot down by the army.

There was no comment from the Lebanese group on the Israeli claim.

Early this month, the Israeli army destroyed three unarmed drones fired by Hezbollah over the disputed Karish gas field in the Mediterranean Sea.

Tension escalated between two sides in recent months amid a dispute between Lebanon and Israel over a maritime area that is 860 square kilometers (332 square miles), according to maps sent by both counties to the UN in 2011.

The area is rich in natural gas and oil. Five sessions of indirect negotiations were held between Lebanon and Israel under UN sponsorship and US mediation. The last round of talks was in May 2021 but it was stuck because of major differences.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar