IDF: Hezbollah launched explosive drones at troops in southern Lebanon, prompting strikes

The Israeli military said Hezbollah launched two explosive drones at Israeli troops operating in the Ali Taher Ridge area of southern Lebanon overnight Wednesday. According to the IDF, troops opened fire at the drones and intercepted both of them. No injuries were reported. The military said it subsequently struck Hezbollah infrastructure in the Nabatieh area to "remove an immediate threat" to Israeli forces. Separately, sirens warning of a suspected hostile aircraft infiltration sounded overnight in several communities in Israel's Upper Galilee. The IDF initially said the alerts were triggered by a suspected aircraft infiltration, but later said interceptors had been launched following a false identification. Sirens sounded in Kfar Yuval, Ma'ayan Baruch, Dafna and HaGoshrim. It was the first time since June that communities in northern Israel received warnings of a suspected drone infiltration from Lebanon. Last week, Hezbollah also launched two explosive drones at Israeli troops operating in the Ali Taher Ridge area, according to the military. The IDF said troops opened fire and downed one of the drones, while contact was lost with the second. No injuries were reported. "The IDF will not allow Hezbollah to operate against troops in the security zone," the military said at the time. The IDF later said it struck Hezbollah infrastructure in Nabatieh in response, including weapons storage facilities.