Drone downed: Israel strikes eastern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah

Beirut: Following Lebanon downing an Israeli drone over its territory, the latter launched air strikes on Bekkaa Valley in eastern Lebanon in the early hours of Sunday. The Israeli attack happened just hours after the downing of its drone, Reuters reported.

Reuters learned from sources that Israeli forces were targeting a training camp belonging to the armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon's Janta village, which shares borders with Syria.

According to sources, one of the airstrikes was aimed at the town of Safri, next to the eastern city of Baalbek.

After the war broke in Gaza, Hezbollah has been trading fire with Israel across Lebanon's southern border. The Iran-backed group had claimed responsibility for downing the Israeli drone.

Hezbollah said in a statement that the drone belonged to the Israeli army, which was hovering over Lebanese territory and was shot down by Islamic resistance fighters on Saturday evening. The drone was type Hermez 900, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the US is reportedly on high alert following Iran's call to step aside after a suspected Israeli attack on its consulate in Syria, prompting Iran to prepare a response, while Hezbollah, its prominent proxy in the region, has issued a stark warning to Israel, signalling readiness for conflict.

Earlier this week, Israel struck the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, killing seven Iranian military advisers. Those who died include three senior commanders, too, prompting Israel to take a vow to strike back.

Iran's message to Washington, conveyed by Mohammad Jamshidi, the Iranian president's deputy chief of staff for political affairs, reportedly cautioned the US against involvement in what it termed as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's agenda. Iran urged the US to refrain from interference to avoid potential retaliation.