A short video released by Israel shows what is described as an unidentified unmanned drone being destroyed, apparently by a jet fighter. The incident occurred on Saturday, Oct. 6, and was captured on ground-based video.
The drone was detected as it flew along the Mediterranean coast, and then Israeli defense forces tracked it as it flew over Gaza and into Israeli airspace. As it was passing over a wooded area of the Yatir Forest, it was shot down, according to the Israeli air force.
It is unclear what type of drone it was or where it was manufactured, but experts suspect it came from Iran. Today, Israel reported it has deployed a battery of Patriot missiles in Haifa, but did not confirm that the move came in response to the incursion.
It’s unlikely that the drone carried ordnance, but rather was probably a reconnaissance UAV. News reports from Israel suggest that Iran provided the drone to Lebanese Hezbollah members to send a warning to Israel. The incident has heightened tension after a lengthy period of relative calm in the region.
