2019 Beirut drone crash
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{{Infobox military operation
| name = 2019 Beirut drone crash
| partof = Iran–Israel proxy conflict and the Hezbollah–Israel conflict
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| type = Loitering munition
| location = Dahieh, Beirut, Lebanon
| coordinates = {{coord|33.886944|35.513056}}
| map_type = Lebanon
| map_size = 300
| map_caption = Location of Beirut in Lebanon
| map_label = Beirut
| planned =
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| date = 25 August 2019
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| executed_by = {{flag|Israel}} (alleged by Lebanon){{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/israel-strikes-palestinian-base-lebanon-reports-190826071121071.html|title=Lebanon president: Israel drone attack a declaration of war|date=26 August 2019}}
{{flag|Iran}} (alleged by Israel){{cite news|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5575149,00.html|title=Beirut fallen drones were Iranian not Israeli, images show|newspaper=Ynetnews |date=25 August 2019|last1=Ben-Yishai |first1=Ron }}
| outcome = Hezbollah Media Center damaged
| casualties =
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}}
Lebanese and Hezbollah officials reported that at 2:30 a.m. local time (23:30 GMT) on 25 August 2019, two drones crashed into the Dahieh district of Beirut, Lebanon. According to Lebanese officials, Israel launched a drone attack.Prime Minister Saad Hariri{{cite web |title=Lebanon president: Israel drone attack a declaration of war |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/israel-strikes-palestinian-base-lebanon-reports-190826071121071.html |work=Al Jazeera}} Hezbollah denied exploding or targeting the drones.{{cite web |author= |date=26 August 2019 |title=Hariri: Israeli drones in Beirut threaten Lebanon's sovereignty |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/israeli-drones-beirut-hezbollah-190825052725185.html |website=Al Jazeera}} It was the first such incident between Israel and Lebanon since the 2006 Lebanon War.{{cite news |last=Bassam |first=Laila |date=August 25, 2019 |title=Two Israeli drones fall in Beirut suburbs, one explodes: army, Hezbollah |newspaper=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-hezbollah-idUSKCN1VF00Y |via=}}
Background
In July 2019 Israel targeted the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) bases in Iraq.{{cite news |last=Yeranian |first=Edward |date=19 July 2019 |title=Drone Attack Hits Shiite Militia Base in Northern Iraq |work=Voice of America |publisher= |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/middle-east_drone-attack-hits-shiite-militia-base-northern-iraq/6172234.html |access-date=30 August 2019}} Several Iraqi, Iranian and Israeli officials have attributed the attacks to Israel, but Israel initially did not confirm nor deny its role. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted responsibility for the attacks on 20 August 2019, claiming that "Iran is not immune anywhere".{{cite news |last=Ahren |first=Raphael |date=20 August 2019 |title=Netanyahu hints Israel behind strikes on Iraq, says Iran not immune anywhere |work=Times of Israel |publisher= |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-hints-israel-behind-strikes-on-iraq-says-iran-not-immune-anywhere/ |access-date=30 August 2019}} Israel confirmed responsibility for the strikes on 22 August 2019, which was later followed by a US confirmation.{{cite news |date=22 August 2019 |title=Netanyahu Confirms Israel Acting Against Iran in Iraq |work=Hamodia |publisher= |url=https://hamodia.com/2019/08/22/netanyahu-confirms-israel-acting-iran-iraq/ |access-date=30 August 2019}}{{cite news |last=Tercatin |first=Rossella |date=23 August 2019 |title=American officials confirm Israel behind strikes in Iraq - Report |work=The Jerusalem Post |publisher= |url=https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/American-officials-confirm-Israeli-strikes-in-Iraq-report-599465 |access-date=30 August 2019}}
A senior researcher at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies stated that an upcoming election and indications that the United States may start talks with Iran, could be reasons why Israel had "stepped up the pressure".{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Saphora |last2=Givetash |first2=Linda |last3=Jabari |first3=Lawahez |date=29 August 2019 |title=Israel's shadow war with Iran risks triggering wider conflict, analysts say |work=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-s-shadow-war-iran-risks-triggering-wider-conflict-analysts-n1046236 |access-date=30 August 2019}}
Reaction
The Israeli military said it does not comment on "foreign reports".
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah labeled the attack as a "suicide mission" and announced that other Israeli drones will be targeted over Lebanon.{{cite web |title=Hezbollah chief: 'We will down Israeli drones in Lebanon skies' |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/hezbollah-chief-israeli-drones-lebanon-skies-190825165611883.html |website=Al Jazeera}}
Ron Ben-Yishai reported for Ynet that the drones were Iranian-made, apparent by their models.{{cite news|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5575149,00.html|title=Beirut fallen drones were Iranian not Israeli, images show|date=August 25, 2019|website=Ynetnews|last1=Ben-Yishai |first1=Ron }}
Amos Harel, writing for Haaretz, stated that the attack was attributed to Israel and damaged an Iranian-supplied planetary mixer used for making "propellants that can improve the engine performance of missiles and increase their accuracy."{{cite web |last=Harel |first=Amos |date=28 August 2019 |title=Beirut Strike Target: Vital Iranian Device for Hezbollah's Mass Missile Production |url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/.premium-israel-hezbollah-strike-beirut-lebanon-iran-precision-missile-1.7761938 |access-date=30 August 2019 |website=Haaretz |publisher=}} The Guardian cites sources saying that Israel sent the drones to "disrupt efforts by Hezbollah to fit advanced guidance systems to rudimentary rockets."{{cite web |last=Chulov |first=Martin |last2=Holmes |first2=Oliver |last3=Rasool |first3=Mohammed |date=28 August 2019 |title=Drone attacks in Middle East raise fears of escalating conflict |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/28/drone-attacks-in-middle-east-raise-fears-of-escalating-conflict |access-date=30 August 2019 |work=The Guardian}}
Aftermath
Israeli jets made low altitude flights over Sidon, according to the Lebanese National News Agency.{{Cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2019/08/25/Israeli-warplanes-fly-at-a-low-altitude-in-Lebanon-s-Sidon.html|title=Israeli warplanes flying at a low altitude over Lebanon's Sidon: Report|website=english.alarabiya.net|date=25 August 2019 }}
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said he would down Israeli drones over Lebanon skies from now on. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said the drones amounted to an open attack on the country's sovereignty.[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/hezbollah-chief-israeli-drones-lebanon-skies-190825165611883.html Hezbollah chief: 'We will down Israeli drones in Lebanon skies']
According to the Lebanese National News Agency, Israeli aircraft attacked a PFLP-GC base in Qousaya Lebanon the following day.{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190826-israel-lebanon-air-strikes-palestinian-authority-mk-drones-syrian-border|title=Lebanese PM in talks with UN official after Israeli air strikes|date=August 26, 2019|website=France 24}}
See also
{{portal|Lebanon}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Iran–Israel proxy conflict}}
Category:August 2019 in Lebanon
Category:Israel–Lebanon relations
Category:Hezbollah–Israel conflict