Mystery drone downed by IDF in Israeli airspace was sent by Iran

Iran sent the drone into Israel following reports attributing several attacks by Israel on Iranian targets and their proxies in Syria in recent days.

The Israeli Air Force works to fight new and developing threats across the region (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)
The Israeli Air Force works to fight new and developing threats across the region
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

The IDF confirmed that the drone that invaded Israeli airspace from Syria and that it brought down on Sunday was Iranian.

It also said it was shot down using special physical electronic means.

Initially, the details of the identity of the drone and how it was brought down were partially censored, since usually the IDF has shot down such invading drones in the past and wants to keep its various electronic capabilities quiet so as not to tip off its enemies.

It was unclear why the IDF used different means this time to bring down the drone and what the significance was of temporarily delaying putting out some of the key information about the incident, followed by a decision on Monday to reveal more.

Even on Sunday night, the IDF had said it had tracked the drone throughout its flight from Syria and that it had never posed a threat.

 People visit at a lookout point on Mount Bental, overlooking the border with Syria, in the Golan Heights on December 7, 2022.  (credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90)
People visit at a lookout point on Mount Bental, overlooking the border with Syria, in the Golan Heights on December 7, 2022. (credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90)

The IDF is still investigating the specifics of the incident, and part of the reason for revealing more information could be that the drone was located and collected for further study in the Hula Valley area on Monday morning.

Why was the drone sent by Iran into Israel?

Iran sent the drone into Israel following reports attributing several attacks by Israel on Iranian targets and their proxies in Syria in recent days.

The increase in attacks attributed to the IDF came shortly after Hezbollah sent an operative to set off explosives in Israel.

The operative set off an explosive in Megiddo in March, but was killed by security forces before he could set off more explosives.

The Upper Galilee Council was notified about the situation and assured that there were no additional immediate threats.