Hezbollah UAV penetrates Israel’s border to land in open space near Afula, IDF fails to intercept

Hezbollah UAVs crossed into Israel, one reaching 35 km inside and exploded near Afula. The IDF responded with airstrikes, no casualties were reported, and residents criticized evacuation decisions.

 Wreckage lies in the garden of a house hit in rocket attacks from Lebanon, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, June 4, 2024.  (photo credit: AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS)
Wreckage lies in the garden of a house hit in rocket attacks from Lebanon, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, June 4, 2024.
(photo credit: AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS)

The IDF confirmed on Friday night that, following the rocket and missile sirens sounded in northern Israel, two projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon into northern Israel and both fell in open areas. 

Following warnings of rocket and missile fire in the Galilee region, a UAV crossed from Lebanon and fell in open areas in the Jezreel Valley due to an unsuccessful interception attempt. Additionally, another UAV was identified crossing from Lebanon and fell in the Shomera area.

The Hezbollah UAV managed to penetrate approximately 35 kilometers into Israeli territory and exploded near the village of Sulam, east of Afula. The explosion of the UAV was not heard, and the possibility that it was a reconnaissance UAV is being investigated.

According to reports, parts of the UAV were being searched for in the area.

The IDF also reported that warnings of rocket and missile fire were activated due to concerns about falling interception debris and that the incident ended without casualties or damage.

Additionally, a siren that blared at 8:13 PM signifying a hostile aircraft infiltration in the western Galilee area was determined to be a false alarm.   

Destroying Hezbollah terror infrastructure

IDF fighter jets destroy Hezbollah infrastructure, June 7 2024.

Additionally, earlier on Friday, fighter jets attacked a Hezbollah terror infrastructure in the Roueissat Abu Laban area, along with a launcher of the organization in the Al-Khreibah area in southern Lebanon. Additionally, the forces carried out artillery and mortar fire to neutralize threats in Alma al-Shaab and Naqoura.

On Wednesday, the IDF reported that at least ten people were injured by a UAV strike near the Horfeish council, whose residents were not evacuated due to the kilometer restrictions for frontline communities.

The head of the council, Anwar Amer, warned of the dangers of residents remaining in the settlement just hours before the UAV fell, saying, "At the beginning of the war, there was a council meeting regarding the evacuation of Horfeish, but it was decided together with the Home Front Command not to evacuate the village."

“This decision has brought a lot of suffering to the residents. Since the beginning of the war, no government official, except the Negev and Galilee Minister - who visited me - has visited. We have not received any assistance."