Israel vows strong reply after jets down drone

Defence Minister Ehud Barak praised the Israel Defence Forces IDF for their quick and effective interception,adding that the UAV was intercepted by F-16I fighter jets on Saturday in the south of Hebron. We take a severe view of the attempt to violate Israeli airspace and we will consider our response, Barak said.

The Israeli Army did not accuse anyone for the flagrant violation of its airspace but security officials seemed to be of the opinion that Lebanese Shiite faction Hezbollah may have once again been behind the move. The Israeli army intercepted an unarmed drone operated by the Hezbollah movement in 2006 over the Jewish states territorial waters.

An unmanned aerial vehicle was identified penetrating Israeli airspace and was intercepted by the IAF at approximately 10.00 am local time on Saturday, an Army spokesperson said.