Israeli army reports intercepting drone launched from Lebanon

By Abderaouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - The Israeli army claimed on Friday the interception of a drone launched from Lebanon before it could penetrate Israeli airspace.

In a statement, the army said it intercepted “a suspicious aerial target (a drone) on its way toward Israeli airspace from Lebanon before entering it."

In a related development, Israeli Channel 12 reported that sirens were heard in Metula and several Israeli settlements near the Lebanese border.

Hezbollah, the Lebanese group, had not commented on the Israeli statement.

Israel has engaged in cross-border warfare with Lebanon, launching an air campaign in late September against what it claims are Hezbollah targets.

Nearly 3,600 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Lebanon, with more than 5,000 injured and over 1 million displaced since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Tel Aviv expanded the conflict by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi