Israel says it has struck southern Lebanon after Hezbollah drone launch

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon following a drone attack on Israeli soldiers, the military announced on Friday. According to the IDF, soldiers intercepted the drone just before it approached them on Friday morning. The incident is being viewed as a clear breach of the ceasefire agreement.

The IDF stated that the soldiers were stationed within the IDF's security zone in southern Lebanon when the drone attack took place. This strike follows the IDF's announcement that it had cleared the Ali al-Taher ridge tunnels of Hezbollah terrorists earlier in the week. Defense Minister Israel Katz declared the mission successful, noting that several terrorists were killed while others managed to flee.

Iran had warned the United States of a forceful response to any Israeli attack on the Ali al-Taher ridge complex, a strategic location due to its vantage point overlooking a wide area. Earlier on Thursday, Katz had threatened that any Iranian attack on Israel would compel the IDF to lift any restrictions and destroy infrastructure in Iran, including energy infrastructure, in response.