Iraqi militia fire UAVs at Eilat, Israel intercepts suspicious aerial target above Syria - report

Fighter jets successfully intercepted a suspicious aerial target en route to Israeli territory from the Syrian area, according to Maariv.

 A screenshot from a Hezbollah video allegedly showing a new missile-firing UAV target an Israeli position in northern Israel. May 17, 2024. (photo credit: Hezbollah Telegram)
A screenshot from a Hezbollah video allegedly showing a new missile-firing UAV target an Israeli position in northern Israel. May 17, 2024.
(photo credit: Hezbollah Telegram)

Iraqi militias took responsibility on Monday overnight for launching two Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) aimed at the area of Eilat and landed in the Gulf of Eilat.

Interceptions over Syria

Fighter jets successfully intercepted a suspicious aerial target en route to Israeli territory from the Syrian area, according to Maariv. The target did not cross into Israeli territory.

An alert for the potential infiltration of a hostile aircraft was activated in open areas in the Golan Heights, following protocol.

 Amidst tension with Syria, IDF Reserve infantrymen take part in a military maneuver of their battalion in Golan Heights, on April 1, 2024.  (credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90)
Amidst tension with Syria, IDF Reserve infantrymen take part in a military maneuver of their battalion in Golan Heights, on April 1, 2024. (credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90)

There were no casualties.

Additionally, in a joint operation between the Navy and the Air Force, a "Saar 4.5" missile boat and fighter jets successfully intercepted two aerial targets that were on their way to Israeli territory from the east. The targets did not cross into Israeli territory, and no alerts were activated.

Syria as a site for Iranian proxy attacks

Iran has frequently used Syria as a base to launch proxy attacks on Israel,  The Jerusalem Post previously reported.

As per Seth Frantzman's analysis, many experts percieve Syria to be one of the many fronts that Iran has been using to expand its proxy attacks against Israel - even basing some IRGC officers there until recently.

While Iran made moves last month to remove IRGC officers, after a strike killed IRGC commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi, Iran's proxy groups have continued to launch attacks.

Only yesterday, Houthi terrorists launched ballistic missiles at ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea as part of its 'Axis of Resistance.'