Squadron 161 (“The Black Snake”) marks its reopening as the only “Zik” Squadron (Hermes 450) in the UAV, absorbing all the “Zik” aircraft from Squadron 166 (“Firebirds”). Taken on 6 December 2020 by Amit Agronov. Source: the Israeli Defense Forces.
Early on November 18, Hezbollah announced that it had shot down a Hermes 450 combat drone of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
The drone was targeted with a surface-to-air missile, Hezbollah said in a statement, adding that the drone’s wreckage was seen falling over the Galilee Panhandle in northern Israel.
The Hermes 450 is an medium-sized multi-payload drone designed for tactical long endurance missions. It has an endurance of over 20 hours, with a primary mission of reconnaissance, surveillance, combat and communications relay. Payload options include electro-optical/infrared sensors, communications and electronic intelligence, synthetic-aperture radar/ground-moving target indication, electronic warfare and hyperspectral sensors.
Hezbollah said that the drone was targeted “in support of the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their brave and honorable resistance.”
The IDF confirmed that a surface-to-air missile was launched from southern Lebanon at one of its drones. However, it alleged that the missile was intercepted by its air defenses.
This was the third time Hezbollah, which is known to possess an arsenal of short and medium-range air defense systems, has claimed to shoot down an IDF drone since clashes on the Lebanese front broke out after the October 7 Hamas-led surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
A day earlier, Hezbollah launched 13 attacks against Israel, targeting military sites, vehicles and troops with mortars, rockets, guided missiles and suicide drones. Four to five soldiers of the IDF were wounded, some of them were reportedly in a life-threatening condition.
In response, Israeli fighter jets carried out a series of airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. The IDF alleged that command centers and observation posts were struck. No casualties were reported however.
So far, the clashes on the Lebanese front have claimed the lives of seven IDF troops, three Israeli civilians, 74 fighters of Hezbollah, two fighters from the Lebanese Resistance Brigades, one fighter from the Lebanese Resistance Regiments, three fighters from the Hamas Movement, four fighters from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and 16 Lebanese civilians.
