The IDF said Friday that its soldiers shot down a drone launched by Hezbollah toward troops operating in the Security Zone in southern Lebanon.
According to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, the drone was intercepted after soldiers opened fire. No Israeli soldiers were injured in the incident.
The IDF said it subsequently launched strikes against targets in southern Lebanon in response to the attack.
"This constitutes a blatant violation by the Hezbollah terrorist organization. IDF soldiers will continue to operate in the Security Zone in order to remove any threat towards Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers."
"The IDF is currently operating and will continue to act with determination against Hezbollah’s repeated attempts to harm IDF soldiers," stressed the IDF Spokesperson's Unit.
On Thursday, the IDF stated that its troops had finished clearing Hezbollah out of the Ali al-Taher Ridge in the Security Zone in Lebanon.
The soldiers achieved operational control of the ridge area, both above and below ground, and cleared the area of terrorists. Some of the terrorists were eliminated, while others fled the area.
Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday promised that Israel will not leave the Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed.
In a statement, he said, "The capture of the Ali al-Taher Ridge marks the completion of the phase establishing control over the security zone in southern Lebanon."
"Following the maneuver to the anti-tank line, the capture of the Beaufort, and the IDF's establishment on the ridge overlooking and protecting the communities of the eastern Galilee, a decision was made to maneuver toward the Ali al-Taher Ridge following intelligence indicating the presence of Hezbollah command-and-control tunnels at the site."
Katz emphasized, "The Ali al-Taher tunnels served as a command center for attacks against our forces and the Galilee region. At the same time, they served as the final commanding position defending the Nabatieh area, which is of great importance to Hezbollah - hence their strategic significance."
(Arutz Sheva-Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)