The Lebanese Hezbollah confirmed that it targeted a disputed area with Israel with three drones over gas installations in the Mediterranean. 


According to Hezbollah, the drones were for surveillance reconnaissance, and Israel had received the message.


Israeli defense ministry published footage targeting drones it claimed belonged to Hezbollah. Israeli media reported that "the Israeli army shot down three drones, which were launched by Hezbollah towards Israeli's exclusive economic zone in the Mediterranean Sea."


Israel is said to gain over 50 billion Euros in natural gas sales to Europe as the Union wants to get rid of Russian energy. The drones were headed toward the Karish offshore gas field that is believed to hold 1.75 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves.


Israeli English-language newspaper, Jerusalem Post, pointed out that "one of them was shot down by an F-16, while two others were shot down by the Barak 8 Navy on INS Eilat," noting that "it is the first time that Use of the system against air threats.


The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said, "The Air Force intercepted three drones belonging to Hezbollah that were on their way to the Karish platform."


In the first statement after the incident, Israeli Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, warned Iran, saying: "Do not test us," and considered that "Iran is the number one threat to us." Lapid added: "We will do everything we can so that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon."


A new report by the Israeli research center "Alma" revealed that the Lebanese Hezbollah owns about 2,000 drones, many of which were developed by Iran.


The Israeli newspaper "Jerusalem Post," quoting the center, reported that Hezbollah has been using drones since the 1990s. An article bylined by Seth Frantzman said that "Over the last several years Iran has rapidly expanded its drone program and encouraged its proxies in the region to develop their own drone technology."


 "much of Hamas and Hezbollah's unmanned technology derives from or originated in Iran, which has maintained an active military drone program since the Iran-Iraq War," Frantzman added. It also explains the Israeli prime minister's remarks about Iran. 


And she continued, "Hezbollah used its drones in Syria as well as against Israel," noting that the Lebanese militias launched a march towards Israel before the Second Lebanon War in 2006.