The IDF says it eliminated a Hezbollah drone cell near Kfar Tebnit in southern Lebanon. Commando Brigade forces spotted the drone, and the IAF identified and struck the operatives, who were hiding near the security zone. The military described the act as a violation by Hezbollah.
The IDF has released a detailed statement Saturday evening confirming that its forces eliminated a Hezbollah drone cell near Kfar Tebnit in southern Lebanon. The military said troops from the Commando Brigade, operating under Division 36, identified an enemy drone, after which the Israeli Air Force located and struck the operatives hiding near the security zone. The act was described as a violation of Hezbollah's commitments. The statement, published at 19:17 Jerusalem, is the latest in a series of fast-moving reports on the incident.
Initial reports from the IDF emerged at 19:04 Jerusalem, first stating that a strike had been carried out on a Hezbollah drone cell in the Tebnit area after a drone was spotted near troops. Within minutes, The Zioneer reported (at 19:04 and again at 19:08 Jerusalem) that the cell was operating an explosive drone, that the Commando Brigade had identified the drone, and that the location was Kfar Tebnit. The evolution of the military's statements moved from a general confirmation to specific operational details: the brigade involved, the type of drone (explosive), and the strike's trigger.
This engagement is part of a broader pattern of Hezbollah drone and ground activity near the Israeli security zone in southern Lebanon, as The Zioneer has reported over recent weeks. The IDF has struck multiple Hezbollah cells in the area, including drone operators, motorcycle-borne squads, and anti-tank missile teams. On June 14, a Hezbollah drone struck a military zone in the Upper Galilee, underscoring the persistent threat. The military has repeatedly stated it will not tolerate Hezbollah operations near its forces.
The IDF has not disclosed the identities of the operatives or whether the drone was armed. The characterization of the act as a "violation" suggests the strike occurred under the existing ceasefire framework, but the full context of the cell's activity—including whether it was preparing an attack—remains unconfirmed by independent sources.
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