Friday saw intensifying fighting on the Israel-Lebanon border as Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets in an expanded assault on northern Israel, some of which were sent to areas never hit before since the conflict started last year.

On Saturday morning the Lebanese paramilitary group which is allied with Iran issued a statement saying it launched “an air assault using explosive drones against… the Yiftah barracks, targeting the positions of enemy officers and soldiers.”

Hezbollah described this fresh operation as retaliation for an Israeli drone attack which wounded two Hezbollah members the day prior. Israel’s military had previously announced “two Hezbollah terrorists operating in the region of Majdal Selm were struck by an aircraft” on Friday.

But later in the day Saturday Hezbollah claimed a big win, having “shot down a Hermes 900 drone which was attacking our people and villages.”

We are now witnessing a drone war phase of sorts playing out. The large drone downing appears to be confirmed through widely circulating footage on Saturday:

⚡️More footage of the massive Hermes 900 armed drone that was struck by Hezb-Allah air defence over southern Lebanon moments ago pic.twitter.com/QTBpuk3u9E

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) June 1, 2024

“The enemy (Israel) intensified its attacks last night,” Lebanon’s National News Agency reported of heavy overnight fighting. This included “a series of drone strikes… which resulted in deaths, injuries and extensive damage” along the border. 

This isn’t the first time Hezbollah has claimed a Hermes drone downing. It reportedly happened in early April as well, and there have been claims of several others downed throughout more than six months of conflict.

🚨BREAKING: The israeli forces admit that the drone shot down by Hezbollah over the skies of southern Lebanon is indeed a Hermes 900 which the IOF had been relying on to avoid constant exposure to resistance missiles.

This is the sixth drone shot by Hezbollah air defenses after… pic.twitter.com/p0p7tXXp2r

— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) June 1, 2024

According to Israeli media, “The Hermes 900 is Elbit’s largest drone and has been sold to the Israeli Air Force, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and according to foreign reports, Azerbaijan.”

“The UAV is a relatively large and expensive drone capable of staying in the air for approximately 30 straight hours,” the report noted. Each Hermes drone is worth around eight to ten million dollars and made in Israel.

Meanwhile significant damage has been revealed at the 769th Brigade headquarters of the Israeli army in the Kiryat Shmona barracks…

⚡️Major damage occurred to the headquarters of the 769th Brigade in Kiryat Shmona after a heavy missile by Hezb-Allah fell. pic.twitter.com/EhTn65p869

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) June 1, 2024