Illustrative image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
Hezbollah on March 22 released video footage showing an Israeli Hermes 450 combat drone getting shot down over Lebanon by its fighters, marking the first such incident since the group resumed military operations against Israel following the start of the war on its ally and main backer, Iran.
The drone was shot down over the town of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, a well known stronghold of Hezbollah, on March 16.
Hezbollah fighters were apparently tracking the drone using regular daytime cameras, in addition to an infrared imager. The footage suggests that they used an Iranian-made Misagh-1 man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) to shoot down the drone. This type of systems was spotted with the group before.
The Misagh-1 is believed to be a variant or reverse-engineered clone of the Chinese-made QW-1 MANPADS. The missile, which is guided by passive infrared homing, has an engagement range of six kilometers with a flight ceiling of up to five kilometers.
The Hermes 450 is a medium-sized multi-payload drone designed by Israeli defense company Elbit for tactical long-endurance missions.
The drone, which reportedly cost more than $2 million, has an endurance of over 20 hours, with a primary mission of reconnaissance, surveillance, combat and communications relay. Payload options include electro-optical/infrared sensors, communications and electronic intelligence, synthetic-aperture radar/ground-moving target indication, electronic warfare, and hyperspectral sensors.
The footage released by Hezbollah shows the Hermes 450 targeted over Bint Jbeil breaking into burning pieces as it fell from the sky.
In a statement released on the day it was shot down, the group said that Israeli strikes hit the wreckage which fell between Bint Jbeil and the nearby town of Aitaroun.
Hezbollah shot down multiple Israeli combat drones during the previous confrontation. It was thought, however, that the group lost its air defense capabilities afterwards. Now, it is clear that the group is still in possession of some air defense systems, at least MANPADS.
These capabilities will pose a serious threat to the Israeli military which is currently preparing to expand ground operations in southern Lebanon.
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good shot old chap
well done hezbollah, clearing the skies from herpes :)
make no mistake, it is written. the 47th titere will vanquish nebuchadnezzar on the 47th year of the eslamic revulution.