Israel said it shot down three unarmed drones launched by Lebanon's Hezbollah towards an Israeli gas rig in the Mediterranean.
Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz delivers a statement in the central Israeli city of Ramat Gan, on March 7, 2020. Photo: AFP
The BBC's Yoland Knell reported on a grainy footage released by the Israeli army which it said showed three hostile drones being intercepted.
It is understood that one drone was shot down by a firejet and two others by ship-mounted missiles.
Tensions have continued to mount between Israel and Lebanon over ownership of the Karish gas field.
Israel claims the field lies within its own waters and not disputed area, which is subject to US meditator negotiations on the location of the maritime border.
Lebanon disagrees and has condemned efforts to begin gas extraction, said Knell.
In a short statement, Hezbollah, an Islamist group in Lebanon confirmed it launched the drones.
It said it had targeted the rig as part of a reconnaissance flight.
"The mission was accomplished and the message was received," the statement said.
Last week the group's leader Hassan Nasrallah threatened to use force to prevent Israel from operating the rig.
Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz said the Islamist group was "preventing the state of Lebanon from reaching an agreement regarding maritime borders, which are critical to the economy and prosperity of the Lebanese nation".
Hezbollah's reported attack comes amid political instability in Israel.
On Thursday lawmakers voted to dissolve parliament and call the fifth election in four years.
The vote which comes after the collapse of former Prime Minster Naftali Bennett's multi-party coalition, offers Benjamin Netanyahu the right-wing opposition leader a chance to return to power.
- BBC