Via The Cradle

Hezbollah launched the first-ever Lebanese airstrike on an Israeli target on Friday, using a never-before-seen drone for the operation. 

“In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their brave and honorable resistance, the Islamic Resistance attacked at 1:38 pm on Thursday the Metulla site, its garrison, and its vehicles with an offensive drone armed with two S5 missiles,” Hezbollah said in a statement Thursday afternoon, marking the sixth of 13 operations that day. 

“When it reached its designated point, it fired missiles at one of its vehicles and the elements gathered around it, killing and wounding them. After that, it continued its assault on its designated target and hit it accurately,” the statement added. 

Hezbollah released footage of its drone strike on Metulla. Two missiles are seen being fired from each side of the drone, which then descends towards its final target and explodes.

Watch the newly published Hezbollah footage of its first ever “airstrike” operation in action:

⚡️⭕️ 🔥 FOOTAGE OF HEZBOLLAH’S FIRST AIRSTRIKE IN HISTORY

– The military media publishes :

Video scenes from the operation of the Islamic Resistance targeting the Metulla site of the #Israeli enemy army, with a new attack drone armed with S5 missiles. pic.twitter.com/YXaO5fSDLr

— Middle East Observer (@ME_Observer_) May 16, 2024

Three Israeli soldiers were reportedly injured – with one seriously wounded – in the drone attack. Coinciding with Israel’s brutal assault on Rafah and its relentless attacks across the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah has stepped up its operations in recent days. 

While it has increasingly deployed the use of attack drones in its operations over the past several months, this is the first time a drone equipped with missiles has been used to attack targets from above – not only since the start of this war but for the first time in Lebanon’s history. 

Hebrew news outlet Channel 13 noted this week that Hezbollah’s attacks have become bolder and more sophisticated, and are resulting in more Israeli casualties. 

In response to Israeli airstrikes on eastern Lebanon the day prior, Hezbollah also announced on Thursday a drone attack on Elbit Systems, the Israel-based international military technology company. 

The Lebanese Shia paramilitary group backed by Iran has been rolling out increasingly sophisticated weaponry used against northern Israel…

I’ve been watching and covering this war for the past 7 months, it’s obvious that on the Lebanese front there are certain weapons that are too effective and Israel has no solution for, anti tank guided missiles and drones. A couple of days ago we saw how Hezbollah used the new… https://t.co/mkl9FoQ2qi pic.twitter.com/6m5SpSrHkP

— Ali Hashem علي هاشم (@alihashem_tv) May 16, 2024

It also targeted the David Cohen factory in Tel Hai, north of the Kiryat Shmona settlement. One of Hezbollah’s many operations on Wednesday targeted Israel’s Sky Dew aerostat at the Ilania base west of Tiberias. The Israeli army confirmed that a “sensitive” facility was hit.