Israeli military planes would make several low-flying flights over Beirut as reconnaissance drones also flew over Sunday in what has become a daily practice.
Israel regularly protests against Lebanese air strikes, often to strike in nearby Syria. On Christmas Eve, Israeli planes flew low late at night, intimidating Beirut residents who are not strangers to these flights. The Israeli strikes followed them in Syria.
IDF F-35 fighting pier
(Photo: IDF Speaker Unit)
The frequency of low-flying warplanes over the capital has increased in the past two weeks, leading to jittery of residents as tensions run high in the region in recent days. administration of President Donald Trump.
Israel rarely comments on these reports.
Much fear may erupt in the region before Trump leaves office in retaliation for the assassination of U.S. leader Iranian Qassem Soleimani in Iraq last year, or to thwart efforts by new administration Joe Biden to negotiate with Ioran.
People walking in central Beirut
(Photo: EPA)
On Friday, the Lebanese army recorded an Israeli flight that lasted nearly six hours in the southern country.
A Twitter account that monitors the movement of planes in the Middle East, #Intel_Sky, has recorded dozens of Israeli jets flying over Lebanon, including a mock raid, since the beginning of the year. #Intel_Sky called Sunday flights “mocking prey.”
At one point in the summer, the Lebanese army reported that Israel broke their airfield nearly 30 times in two days, flying reconnaissance drones and jets into the Lebanese region.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon says Israel enters Lebanon’s airfield every day in violation of the UN’s intentions and the country’s sovereignty.
Between June and October 2020, UNIFIL recorded a daily average of 12.63 flight breaks, a total of 61 hours and 51 minutes in flight time, a significant increase from the previous four months. Drones accounted for about 95% of all breaches, UNIFIL said.
Israel and Lebanon are technically at war. Hezbollah, Lebanon ‘s powerful Iranian – backed group, is Israel’ s sworn enemy and has been embroiled in a series of conflicts, including a full – scale war in 2006.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is surrounded by defenders as he greets his supporters at a protest against the US in Beirut
(Photo: Reuters)
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in an interview at the end of the year that Israel’s efforts to thwart its group’s ability to deliver precision-guided missiles have failed. He said Hezbollah now has twice as many missiles as it did last year.
In recent months Israel has expressed concern that Hezbollah is trying to set up production facilities to control missiles with precision.