Israeli aircraft shoots down drone from Lebanon – IDF

An Israeli F-16 I fighter jet (AFP Photo/Jack Guez)

The Israeli military says it has shot down an unmanned aircraft sent into Israeli airspace by the Hezbollah group.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) reportedly tried to violate Israeli airspace and was intercepted by an F-16 fighter jet. 

The UAV was “successfully downed” five nautical miles off the coast of the Israeli city of Haifa, a statement on the IDF website said. It stated that the Israeli navy was searching for the wreckage in the sea.

"I view with great gravity this attempt to violate our border. We will continue to do what is necessary to defend the security of Israel's citizens," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.