Israeli officials accused Hezbollah of launching an explosive drone at an IDF engineering vehicle on the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, according to reports. The military is preparing a response to the attack, which underscores ongoing tensions despite the ceasefire framework.
Israeli officials have formally accused Hezbollah of launching an explosive drone that struck an IDF engineering vehicle on the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, and the military is preparing a response, according to reports. The accusation comes after earlier reports from i24NEWS and the IDF confirming the strike, which was identified as a Hezbollah explosive drone hitting an IDF D9 armored bulldozer. The IDF had previously stated it was deliberating a response, and the new statement indicates a decision to retaliate.
The incident first emerged overnight when N12 reported that an IDF vehicle was hit in southern Lebanon, with the army probing Hezbollah fire as the cause. At 11:18 Jerusalem, the IDF confirmed that an engineering vehicle was struck by a suspected Hezbollah explosive drone on the Ali Taher ridge, and later confirmed the drone was Hezbollah's and that the target was a D9 bulldozer. The military characterized the attack as a violation of the ceasefire and carried out artillery fire toward the area. At 13:42, The Zioneer reported that the IDF was deliberating a response. The new official attribution solidifies the chain of responsibility.
The Ali Taher ridge has been a central flashpoint in recent weeks. As The Zioneer reported in June, Hezbollah claimed to have hit Israeli vehicles and repelled an advance near Tibnah, and later stated it would confront IDF advances at the ridge despite maintaining commitment to the ceasefire. The IDF has described the ridge as a strategic asset overlooking Nabatieh and revealed that it was the site of Hezbollah's main underground headquarters, which Israeli forces were attempting to seize. The drone strike underscores the ongoing tensions despite the ceasefire framework.
No casualties have been reported from the drone strike, and the exact damage to the vehicle is not detailed. The nature and timing of Israel's planned response remain unspecified. The ceasefire framework's status remains under strain, with Hezbollah previously accusing Israel of violations.
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