UPDATE 2 - Blast from drone launched from Lebanon injures 2 Israeli soldiers

ADDS STATEMENT FROM ISRAELI ARMY, REVISES HEADLINE, LEDE, EDITS THROUGH

By Said Amori

JERUSALEM (AA) – Two Israeli soldiers were injured Thursday from an explosion of a drone launched from southern Lebanon toward northern Israel, according to the army.

The drone fell and exploded in the Eliakim base south of Haifa after being chased by Israeli air defenses for nearly 40 minutes, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported.

The newspaper did not specify whether the drone was shot down or crashed.

Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a press conference that the two soldiers were moderately injured.

The Lebanese Hezbollah group claimed responsibility for the attack and said it targeted the Eliakim base, hitting targets “accurately.”

Israel has launched an air campaign in Lebanon against what it claims are Hezbollah targets in an escalation in a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and the group since the start of Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip in October last year.

Nearly 3,400 people have been killed, more than 14,400 injured and over 1 million displaced by Israeli attacks since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.​​​​​​​

Israel expanded the conflict by launching an incursion into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1 this year.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala​​​​​​​