Hezbollah UAV Shot Down

The Israeli Air Force shot down a Hezbollah Unmanned Aerial Vehicle as it approached Haifa. The intent of the vehicle is not known. The aircraft is manufactured in Iran.

F-16 fighter jets shot down a Hizbullah Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Monday night 10 kilometers off the coast of Acre. A high-ranking IAF officer said that it was possible that the UAV was loaded with explosives and was on its way to crash into a sensitive installation in northern Israel.

The officer said that the IAF did not spot the UAV at takeoff but did discover it flying over Lebanon. The decision to shoot it down however came after the UAV had reached a 10-km point off the coast of Acre. F-16 jets were scrambled to the air and shot down the aircraft. Navy ships collected the remains of the aircraft found floating in the Mediterranean.

The officer said that it was possible that the UAV was sent over to conduct surveillance for the Hizbullah which has flown two UAVs over northern Israel twice in the past two years.

"It could be that the UAV was packed with explosives," the officer said. "It is also possible that the UAV was launched to send a message of Hizbullah's capabilities."

Iran is showing it's hand more and more in the past few days.