Israel shoots downs three Hezbollah drones headed toward Karish gas rig

Gantz: Israel will protect its infrastructure

the idF shot down three unmanned aerial vehicles launched by Hezbollah toward israel’s economic waters over the mediterranean sea on saturday afternoon.

one of the three uaVs was shot down by an F-16 and two others were downed by the naval Barak 8 medium-range surface-to-air missile system on the INS Eilat, marking the first time the system was used against aerial threats.

the Barak-8 mR-sam system is able to shoot down enemy aircraft at a range of 50-70 kilometers (32-43 miles). it is designed to defend naval vessels against a myriad of shortto long-range airborne threats, such as incoming missiles, planes and drones at both low or high altitudes.

the uaVs were identified at an early stage in their flight by the idF, monitored throughout their flight and intercepted at the most appropriate operational point by the fighter jet and missile ship.

according to the preliminary investigation carried out by the military, the uaVs are not believed to have been armed and did not pose a real threat during their flight. it’s believed that they were launched by Hezbollah likely to fly over the Karish gas rig for propaganda purposes.

the drones were shot down several kilometers from the rig.

Following the incident, defense minister Benny Gantz held a situational assessment with idF chief of staff lt.-Gen. aviv Kohavi, air Force commander maj.-Gen. tomer Bar, naval commander V.-adm. david saar salame, military intelligence head maj.-Gen. aharon Haliva, operations directorate head maj.-Gen. oded Basiuk and political-military Bureau head dror shalom.

Gantz warned that israel is prepared to defend its infrastructure against any threat.

“the terror organization Hezbollah is preventing the state of lebanon from reaching an agreement regarding maritime borders, which are critical to the economy and prosperity of the lebanese nation,” he said. “this is despite the willingness of the state of israel to move forward in the negotiations and to reach a solution on the issue.

“the state of israel will continue

to defend its assets. we are obligated and will preserve our right to operate and respond to any threat,” Gantz said.

Hezbollah secretary-General Hassan nasrallah has threatened to use force to prevent the Karish gas rig from producing natural gas, which is expected to start in several weeks. israel sees the rig as a strategic asset several kilometers south of the area over which negotiations are being conducted, and has warned that it will defend it.

“the state of israel prioritizes the protection of its strategic assets, and is prepared to defend them and the security

and inconvenience to his neighbors, who appealed to the courts to force him to move.

Lapid and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar discussed the matter in their meeting on Friday. Bar said most of the security and infrastructure problems have yet to be fixed, but agreed to find a way to expedite the renovations.

Rather than stay in the main house, the Lapids will temporarily reside in an apartment that had been used by Shin Bet security guards within the Balfour compound, in a house known as Villa Hana Salameh.

Bar said that there will also have to be increased security at Lapid’s home in Tel Aviv, but that the Shin Bet will try not to disrupt the daily lives of his neighbors and to lower costs by moving security apparatus that had been used for other purposes.