IDF strikes Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after Israeli soldiers intercept drone attack

The strikes follow an announcement by Defense Minister Israel Katz earlier on Friday that the IDF had cleared Lebanon's Ali al-Taher ridge tunnels of Hezbollah terrorists.

The IDF struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after the terrorist organization launched a drone towards Israeli soldiers, the military said on Friday.

According to the IDF, the soldiers shot down the drone after it was spotted approaching them earlier on Friday.

No IDF soldiers were injured in the attack, which was described by the military as a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire agreement.

The military noted that the soldiers were in the IDF's security zone in southern Lebanon when the drone attack occurred.

Katz: Hezbollah cleared from Ali al-Taher ridge tunnels

The strikes follow an announcement by Defense Minister Israel Katz earlier on Friday that the IDF had cleared Lebanon's Ali al-Taher ridge tunnels of Hezbollah terrorists.

"The mission was completed, and the tunnels were cleared of terrorists," said Katz at the time, with an IDF statement on the operation noting that several terrorists embedded in the tunnels were killed, while others fled.

On Thursday, Iran warned the United States that it would respond forcefully to any Israeli attack on the Ali al-Taher ridge complex, which provides a strategic vantage point due to its position overlooking a wide area.

Also on Thursday, Katz warned that any Iranian attack on Israel would free the IDF "from any restrictions," Walla reported.

“We will destroy all national, military, and civilian infrastructure in Iran, including energy infrastructure,” Katz threatened during a speech to Defense Ministry employees. “We will return Iran to the Stone Age.”

Maariv, Ariella Roitman, and Reuters contributed to this report.