Israeli army announces downing of 2 drones fired from Lebanon amid ongoing tension

By Anadolu staff

JERUSALEM (AA) - The Israeli army on Tuesday announced downing of two drones fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel amid the ongoing tension between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

In a statement, the Israeli army said it intercepted one drone over the Kiryat Shmona settlement in the Galilee area.

Another was hit in Lebanese airspace before crossing into Israel, the military statement claimed.

No injuries or damage were reported from the drone attack, the Israeli army also said.

Earlier, siren alarms were heard in Israeli towns and settlements near the borders with Lebanon.

Hezbollah, for its part, said its fighters targeted spy and surveillance equipment at the Israeli army's Misgav Am site in northern Israel.

Fears have grown about a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah amid a months-long exchange of cross-border fire, especially with Hezbollah threatening military retaliation after the assassination of its top commander Fouad Shukr in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on July 30.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of an Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 40,000 people since last October following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara