In a recent announcement, Hezbollah claimed that it had successfully shot down Israel’s third Hermes 900 UAV, despite Israeli claims that this weapon was beyond the group’s interception capabilities. The armed group in Lebanon stated that its gunmen downed the UAV equipped with missiles using anti-aircraft weapons on October 10. Although the Israeli army confirmed that one of its UAVs was hit and damaged while operating in Lebanese airspace, it did not specify the type of UAV that was targeted.
Hezbollah has made similar claims twice before during the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In addition to this type of weapon, Hezbollah also announced that it had shot down the enemy’s Hermes 450 UAV. Developed by Israel’s Elbit Systems corporation, the Hermes 900 is an upgraded version of the Hermes 450 series, boasting improved flight range, payload, and operating time.
Observers believe that Hezbollah may possess advanced air defense systems, such as the Buk-M2 and Pantsir-S1 missiles from Iran and Syria, capable of intercepting targets at altitudes up to 25 km. The group is believed to have acquired Saqr 358 missiles from Iran last year, changing the landscape of its air defense capabilities.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated in recent weeks, with both sides increasing attacks on each other’s targets. Hezbollah has used suicide UAVs while the Israeli army has conducted precision attacks against armed groups in Lebanon. The growing tensions raise concerns about the risk of the conflict spreading and causing more casualties on both sides.
