JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s Air Force shot down an unmanned aircraft off the coast of Haifa.
The unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV, was identified approaching the coast of Israel and was intercepted by the Air Force five miles off the coast of Haifa on Thursday afternoon, the Israel Defense Forces spokespersons office said in a statement.
IDF naval forces are currently searching the area for the remains of the vehicle, which reportedly came from Lebanon and is believed to have been launched by the Hezbollah terrorist organization.
"I view with utmost gravity this attempt to violate our border. We will continue to do everything necessary to safeguard the security of Israel’s citizens," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
It is the second time a UAV has been intercepted in Israeli air space within the past seven months, according to the IDF. The last unmanned aircraft, shot down in October, originated in Lebanon and flew over several Israeli cities before being shot down over southern Israel.
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