Hezbollah shoots down IDF drone, hits IDF base as northern Israel suffers another weekend under fire

Israel Defense Forces stated it hit 40 targets in Lebanon over the past 72 hours, as the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah downed an IDF drone and launched numerous attacks on Israeli territory Saturday, including one that severely damaged an IDF base in Kiryat Shmona.

“Air Force planes attacked a surface-to-air missile launcher used by Hezbollah’s air defense system, in response to the terror organization’s attempts to attack the [IDF’s] aerial freedom. In a quick and targeted closing of intelligence, fire and air circles, about 10 terrorist squads… were attacked, and about four terrorists were eliminated,” the IDF stated on Saturday evening.

צה״ל תקף שורת מטרות ב-72 השעות האחרונות בלבנון. בפעולה משותפת של פיקוד הצפון, חיל האוויר ואגף המודיעין הותקפו מבנים צבאיים מהם פעלו מחבלים של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה, נכנסים משמעותיים של הארגון ומשגרים מהם בוצע ירי לעבר שטח מדינת ישראל >> pic.twitter.com/CGE8Q4kAwM

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) June 1, 2024

Shortly before, the IDF’s aerial defense system intercepted a Hezbollah drone over the city of Acre, located some 18 km (11 miles) from the border.

Less than 24 hours before, another Hezbollah drone activated air raid sirens in the area surrounding Acre on Friday evening.

One interception reported over the Bustan HaGalil area, close to Acre pic.twitter.com/a2zb9K4At7

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 1, 2024

Earlier on Saturday, Hezbollah claimed to have shot down an Israeli Hermes 900 drone over southern Lebanon. The drone is one of the larger models used by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) for surveillance and attacks.

The IDF said it was investigating the rare incident, which is only the fourth time Hezbollah has successfully shot down an Israeli drone. Hezbollah downed another Hermes 900 and two smaller Hermes 450 drones earlier during the war.

مشهد آخر يظهر المسيرة تحترق في سماء الجنوب! pic.twitter.com/EHAsEG1PY0

— bintjbeil.org (@bintjbeilnews) June 1, 2024

On Saturday morning, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for two strikes in which it used heavy “Burkan” rockets, causing heavy damage to the IDF’s Gibor Camp near the city of Kiryat Shmona.

Despite their short range, “Burkan” rockets have large explosive warheads weighing hundreds of kilograms.

The IDF later announced that no soldiers were injured in the attack, and said it destroyed the responsible rocket launchers shortly after.

הותר לפרסום: רקטת הבורקאן של חזבאללה פגעה הבוקר במחנה גיבור, מפקדת חטיבה 769 בקריית שמונה@Doron_Kadosh pic.twitter.com/HCo0KQ4W8Z

— גלצ (@GLZRadio) June 1, 2024

On Friday evening, several barrages targeted the Western Galilee area, close to the Mediterranean Sea, and four people were lightly injured.

Alarm sirens were activated in the area of Ga’aton – where nine rockets were fired – and Ma’alot, where Hezbollah fired another six rockets. Most of the projectiles fell in open areas and no injuries or damage was reported.

After the IDF published a map showing the targets it attacked over the past days, Army Radio’s military correspondent Doron Kadosh cautioned: “Don’t let this map confuse you. The scope of the IDF’s attacks in southern Lebanon was not particularly wide in recent days, in a way that we have not seen in the war. On the other hand, Hezbollah continues to show increasing boldness, increase the pace of its attacks and raise the bar.”