Israeli army claims intercepting 3 drones fired from Lebanon

JERUSALEM

The Israeli army on Friday evening claimed intercepting three drones fired from southern Lebanon toward northern Israel.

The Israeli Army Radio reported that two drones were downed before entering the Israeli airspace, while the third was shot down over the Kiryat Shmona settlement area.

No injuries or material damage were reported by the Israeli authorities.

In a series of statements, the Hezbollah group said it carried out 20 military operations on Friday against Israeli soldiers, bases, and settlements, involving rocket and drone strikes.

Israel launched an air campaign in Lebanon against what it claims are targets of the Hezbollah group in late September, in an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare.

Over 3,400 people have been killed, nearly 14,600 injured and more than 1 million people displaced by Israeli attacks since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Despite international warnings that the Middle East region was on the brink of a regional war, Tel Aviv expanded the conflict by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar