Hezbollah Claims Shooting Down Israeli Hermes 450 (Zik) Drone Over Southern Lebanon — IDF No Comment

Hezbollah announced it had shot down an Israeli military drone over southern Lebanon, stating in a communiqué that 'in response to the criminal Israeli aggression that targeted dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, as well as the southern suburbs of Beirut,' its operatives had downed an Elbit Hermes 450 UAV over the Wadi Saluki area 'using appropriate weapons.' The Hermes 450 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone used by the Israeli Air Force for both surveillance and strike missions. Known in IDF service as the 'Zik,' it has a wingspan of roughly 10 metres and is equipped with electro-optical sensors and optionally armed with precision munitions. The IDF had not commented on the claim. Hezbollah has previously shot down Israeli drones in conflicts prior to this war; however, this would represent the first such claimed kill of the current conflict. The shoot-down — if confirmed — would indicate Hezbollah retains some residual air defence capability in southern Lebanon despite the extensive IDF air campaign that has killed over 450 Lebanese (mostly combatants) and struck hundreds of targets. Wadi Saluki is a valley in the Nabatieh governorate of south Lebanon, historically used by Hezbollah as a defensive corridor.