Hezbollah reveals drone footage of Israeli-occupied Golan Heights

The Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah released footage of 17 military sites in the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights on July 9th, reported Asharq Al-Awsat and agencies.

The footage, published as a 10-minute video, was gathered by the armed group’s surveillance drone demonstrating Hezbollah’s reconnaissance capabilities of Israel. The video is the second clip of surveillance footage the Iran-aligned group has released; the last one, filmed earlier in June, showed various locations in Israel, including the city of Haifa’s airport and seaports.

Al Mayadeen, a Lebanese pro-Iranian television, stated after the first video was online that the unmanned aircraft returned to Lebanon without being detected or shot down by Israel’s defence system.

Hezbollah media relations officer Muhammad Afif told agencies that “Publishing this video sends a clear message to the enemy and its army,”.

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“The importance stems from demonstrating our technical and technological capabilities in the field of surveillance and obtaining necessary information we need in times of war,” stated Afif.

Hezbollah has repeatedly sent surveillance and explosive drones into Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip after the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7th. Missile fire exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel have happened regularly since.

The escalation of violence from both sides has raised fears of a full-scale war that would cause the conflict to spill over into the broader Middle East. Both sides have stated their desire to avoid the possibility of war, and diplomats are working to prevent it.

A negotiated settlement to hostilities along the southern border of Lebanon with Israel is currently being worked on by the United States and France.

Asharq Al-Awsat / Middle East Monitor and agencies