Israel and Hezbollah escalate drone warfare as strikes kill six in southern Lebanon
Israel and Hezbollah escalate drone warfare as strikes kill six in southern Lebanon
Hezbollah has released footage showing its forces striking multiple Israeli military assets in southern Lebanon using Iranian-made "Ababil" FPV drones, marking a sharp intensification in unmanned aerial tactics. The attacks, documented between May 8 and 21, targeted a Merkava IV tank, HMMWV armored vehicles, HEMTT fuel tanks, a D9 bulldozer, and a SATCOM device near Rchaf and Deir Seryan, according to Telegram channel *GeoPWatch* . A May 21 drone surveillance mission revealed Israeli forces had largely withdrawn from the area, prompting a follow-up strike on a Merkava IV’s rear turret. The IDF has responded by covering buildings with netting to intercept drones and minimizing infantry exposure, the footage suggests.
The same day, Israeli airstrikes killed six people in southern Lebanon, despite an ostensible ceasefire and reports of a looming U.S.-Iran peace deal, *Al Jazeera* and *The Guardian* report . The strikes followed a May 23 raid on Sir al-Gharbiyeh that left 11 dead, including a child and six women, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Israel has ordered the evacuation of ten villages in southern and eastern Lebanon, *Aktuality.sk* reports, as attacks expand despite diplomatic efforts .
Hezbollah’s drone operations now include a new "Ababil" FPV variant, distinct from its standard "Mark4 V2 10" model, used in a May 18 strike on a Namer APC in Deir Seryan . Meanwhile, Iran claims to have shot down an Israeli Orbiter surveillance drone over Hormozgan province, recovering its wreckage with naval assistance, *IntelliNews* and *Mehr News Agency* report . Iranian officials assert the drone, designed to evade radar, was intercepted by unspecified air defense systems covering the Persian Gulf.
The conflict has displaced over 1.2 million people in Lebanon, with 14.3% of the country’s territory under evacuation orders, *The Guardian* notes. The escalation coincides with stalled ceasefire talks and heightened regional tensions, as Israel’s military campaign shows no signs of abating.
Israel and Hezbollah escalate drone warfare as strikes kill six in southern Lebanon
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#BREAKING ⚡️🇱🇧🇱🇧❌🇮🇱 - Hezbollah published footage of the targeting of numerous IDF assets within an armored gathering using "Ababil" FPV drones in southern Lebanons Rchaf across days. On the 8th of May, a "Merkava IV" tank upper-front plate was struck. On the 13th, a "HMMWV" was struck. On the 14th, a number of gas cylinders outside a building an IDF force was fortifying in was struck. On the 15th, 2 "HEMTT" fuel tanks, 1 "HMMWV" and 1 "D9" Bulldozer were struck. on the 17th, another building in which an IDF force was fortfying in was struck. On the 19th, a SATCOM device was struck. On the 21st, an FPV drone conducted surveillance in the attack area, finding that the majority of the forces withdrew, following the attacks. The drone proceeded to target the rear turret of a "Merkava IV" tank. Noteworthy is the spreading of nettings on buildings by the IDF, in attempt to intercept these FPV drones. Moreover, no Infantry soldiers are in sight, as the IDF has begun avoiding direct exposure to a maximum. @GeoPWatch
telegram bot · 4 days ago
Israeli strikes kill six in southern Lebanon, amid fresh evacuation orders Israels attacks in southern Lebanon are expanding despite supposed ceasefire.
aljazeera · 4 days ago
Israeli strikes pound Lebanon despite signs US and Iran are close to peace deal Some casualties after attacks on multiple locations in south and east of country on Sunday, state media reportsMiddle East crisis: live updatesIsraeli strikes have hit southern and eastern Lebanon, a day after 11 people were killed in a single raid on the south despite a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war and claims that the US and Iran are about to reach a peace deal.Saturdays strike in Sir al-Gharbiyeh resulted in a massacre whose final toll is 11 dead including a child and six women, and nine wounded including four children and a woman, Lebanons health ministry said. Continue reading...
theguardian · 4 days ago
Izrael pokračuje v ofenzíve na juhu Libanonu, evakuácia desiatich dedín nariaďená armádou Izrael pokračuje v náletoch na Libanon a nariaďuje evakuáciu desať dedín na juhu a východe krajiny. Útoky si vyžiadali najmenej 11 mŕtvych civilistov.
aktuality.sk · 4 days ago
⚡️🇱🇧🇱🇧❌🇮🇱 - Hezbollah published footage of the targeting of a "NAMER" APC using an FPV drone in southern Lebanons Deir Seryan on the 18th of May. Notably, a new FPV variant is being used instead of the usual "Mark4 V2 10", which Hezbollah labels the "Ababil".
telegram bot · 4 days ago
Izrael útočí na juh Libanonu aj napriek prímeriu. Armáda nariadila evakuáciu desiatich dedín Izrael pokračuje v náletoch na Libanon a nariaďuje evakuáciu desať dedín na juhu a východe krajiny. Útoky si vyžiadali najmenej 11 mŕtvych civilistov.
aktuality.sk · 4 days ago
Sad, mad and disheartened: for the diaspora, the bombardment in Lebanon is a special kind of loss The destruction of homes and villages in southern Lebanon leaves a mark not just on those living there, but families watching on across the globeFor the last two years, much of the Lebanese diaspora – estimated to be about 15 million people spread across Australia, Europe, North and South America and more – has held its breath. Much of it watched from afar, helpless, during the latest extended conflict between Hezbollah and Israel as Israeli attacks on their motherland, and particularly its southern villages, resulted in widespread destruction. To date, more than 1.2 million people have been displaced, thousands killed, and roughly 14.3 of Lebanese territory ordered to be vacated. But while those within the country endure their own suffering, those in the diaspora face a different, emotional struggle: the loss of familial homes they may not be able to return to, and a severing of connection to a place that is a fundamental part of who they are. Continue reading...
theguardian · 4 days ago
🔴 BREAKINGFrance Bans Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir Over Gaza Flotilla IncidentFrance has banned Israeli far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering the country following his controversial and unspeakable behavior during an arrest of activists on a Gaza flotilla.📰 #Israel #Diplomacy #Geopolitics #GeoWire
mastodon bot · 4 days ago
France bans Ben-Gvir: Which other Israeli leaders have been penalised? France bans the Israeli far-right minister after his unspeakable behaviour against arrested Gaza flotilla activists.
aljazeera · 4 days ago
Iran says it shot down Israeli Orbiter surveillance drone over Hormozgan Irans south-east air defence region says it has shot down an Israeli Orbiter reconnaissance drone over Hormozgan province, with the wreckage recovered by the Hormozgan coast guard.
intellinews · 4 days ago
🇮🇷❌🇮🇱- According to Irans Mehr News Agency, an Israeli Orbiter reconnaissance drone was shot down by Iranian air defense systems in the southeastern defense operational area based in Bandar-Abbas. ➡️ The Orbiter is a radar-evading drone, but officials did not reveal the interception systems specifications, only noting that no such drone can enter the mission areas airspace, which includes the Persian Gulf and surrounding regions. ➡️ The wreckage was recovered with help from the Faraj naval patrol fleet in Hormozgan province. @GeoPWatch
telegram bot · 4 days ago