Hezbollah releases images of IDF surveillance balloon hit by drone as Netanyahu vows to restore security in the north

IDF kills numerous Hezbollah soldiers in airstrikes in the last 24 hours

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised on Sunday that he would restore security to northern Israel, as the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah continued to boast about its success in damaging an IDF surveillance balloon last week.

In its most significant attack deep inside Israel to date, the terror group targeted the "Sky Dew" blimp with a drone. The blimp was located approximately 35 kilometers (21 miles) from the border, marking a substantial escalation of its attacks against Israel in support of Hamas.

Footage published by Hezbollah showed satellite images and pictures of the damaged balloon after the attack, as well as footage of the “Ababil” drone used in the attack.

O Hezbollah teve como alvo o Sky Dew, o maior balão espião de Israel com drones

Este balão espião serviu como radar de detecção para aeronaves não tripuladas e mísseis

Parece que Sky Dew foi atingido e danificado pic.twitter.com/XdtCsjGf94
— Geopolítica BR (@Geopoliticabras) May 16, 2024

Amid intensified attacks by Hezbollah in recent weeks, Netanyahu met with several municipal heads from towns on the northern border on Sunday evening to discuss how to return displaced Israelis to their homes and compensate them after more than seven months of war.

After the meeting that Israeli media characterized as “stormy,” Netanyahu instructed officials in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Finance Ministry to meet with the council heads to “bridge the minor remaining gaps” and present him with an agreed-upon plan to be submitted for government approval during the week.

“In the end, the revival and the momentum of the northern border depend on security,” the prime minister stated.

“The sense of security depends on security. Contrary to what might be customary for them, I am not going to tell Hezbollah what we are going to do, I will not share with our sworn enemy the dates and how exactly we are going to do it. ‘With stratagems, you will make peace and security,’ and war as well. We are committed to restoring security and we will do it,” he added.

On Sunday and Monday, Hezbollah carried out slightly fewer attacks than in previous days, claiming responsibility for four anti-tank missile and drone attacks, in addition to three drone launches for which it didn’t take responsibility.

One IDF soldier was lightly injured in an attack on an IDF post in Biranit, the IDF stated. Shortly after, fighter jets hit the rocket launcher in the town of Ayta ash-Sha'ab, which was used in the attack.

Daily update May 20, 2024, 02:00 pm - Northern arena
1. In the past 24 hours #Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 4 attacks against #Israel using anti-tank missiles and suicide UAVs.
2. In addition, there were 3 events of UAV infiltrations into Israeli territory in the Upper… pic.twitter.com/u9YtsE1yYl
— Israel-Alma (@IsraelAlma_org) May 20, 2024

Meanwhile, the IDF stepped up its attacks on Hezbollah targets, striking three Hezbollah squads before they could carry out planned launches, as well as a munitions warehouse in a-Naqoura.

Footage released by the IDF showed secondary explosions, indicating the presence of weapons at the location.

כוחות יחידה 869 זיהו מוקדם יותר היום מחבלים נכנסים למבנה צבאי במרחב אל עדייסא, זמן קצר לאחר הזיהוי מטוסי קרב תקפו את המבנה בו שהו המחבלים.

לפני זמן קצר מטוסי קרב של חיל האוויר תקפו משגר של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב עייתא א-שעב, ממנו זוהו שיגורים אל עבר מרחב בירנית במהלך היום>> pic.twitter.com/RVBNi6Eh8J
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) May 20, 2024

At the time of publication, at least six Hezbollah operatives were eliminated in the Israeli strikes, including four who were killed in the attack on the warehouse in a-Naqoura, and two in a strike in Mais al-Jabal.

Earlier in the day, Hezbollah announced that five terrorists were killed in Israeli strikes, bringing the group's total losses since last October to 309.

In addition, at least one other Hezbollah operative was killed in Syria, as Syrian sources reported that Israel struck two targets near the city of Homs in northern Syria, killing six people.

A Hezbollah source told AFP that at least one of its terrorists was killed as Israel struck sites “of pro-Iran groups in the Homs region,” including “a Hezbollah site in the Qusair area,” according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.