The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on 30/4 that the Hezbollah armed group deployed a drone, striking an M548 tracked transport vehicle at an artillery position near the Shomera settlement in northern Israel.
The attack caused the M548 to burn fiercely, and several artillery shells at the position also detonated. Two soldiers sustained moderate injuries, while at least 10 others were lightly wounded. The Israeli military is investigating the incident, including verifying whether the Hezbollah drone was fiber-optic guided.
Smoke rises after Hezbollah's strike on an artillery position in northern Israel on 30/4. Video: N12News
Images released by Israeli fire and rescue services show the M548 vehicle engulfed in flames, with an M109 self-propelled howitzer nearby.
On the same day, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacking the Israeli artillery position near the border with Lebanon. They also stated they shot down a Hermes 450 reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), valued at over 2 million USD.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later confirmed that one of its Hermes 450 UAVs was hit by an enemy anti-aircraft missile, asserting there was no risk of classified data leakage.
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An Israeli M548 vehicle burns after a Hezbollah attack on 30/4. Photo: Times of Israel
The IDF recently faced criticism for not adequately preparing to protect personnel and equipment from Hezbollah's first-person view (FPV) drone attacks.
Images released last week showed Hezbollah deploying FPV drones to attack advanced Merkava Mark 4M main battle tanks and Eitan armored personnel carriers, as well as targeting many Israeli soldiers. The IDF confirmed at least one soldier died and six were injured in an attack in southern Lebanon on 26/4.
In an incident on 27/4, a Hezbollah suicide drone nearly struck a Black Hawk helicopter evacuating Israeli soldiers.
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Location of Shomera town (red), bordering Israel and Lebanon. Graphic: Google Maps
The conflict in Lebanon re-escalated in early March after the Hezbollah armed group launched rockets into Israeli territory. This was in retaliation for the assassination of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the Middle East conflict. Israel responded with large-scale strikes across Lebanon and deployed troops into the southern part of the neighboring country.
The IDF currently controls territory about 5-10 km deep inside Lebanese territory. The stated goal is to protect northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks. The Israeli military also warned residents of southern Lebanon not to enter this area.
Clashes between Hezbollah and the IDF continue, despite an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire taking effect on 16/4 and being extended for three weeks. The conflict has resulted in nearly 2,500 deaths and over 7,900 injuries in Lebanon.
Huyen Le (According to CNN, Times of Israel)
