Lebanese army fires at intruding Israeli drone

The Lebanese army fired at an Israeli drone in the central Bekaa region of Lebanon Thursday, media reported.

According to a military statement, "around 10.30 a.m. an Israeli reconnaissance plane (flew over) the Riyaq region in central Bekaa and army units in the area responded by opening anti-aircraft fire," Xinhua reported.

However, the Voice of Lebanon radio said that the army "opened anti-aircraft fire at three Israeli MK drones that staged a circular flight over the Riyaq airport," according to the report.

Violations of Lebanese airspace by Israel, some of which at low altitudes, have intensified in recent times.

Israel routinely sends its F-16 fighter planes over Lebanon, in violation of the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 1701, that ended its 2006 war with the Hezbollah militant group based in Lebanon.

The Israeli planes have often broken the sound barrier over Beirut and other places as a show of strength.

The Lebanese army opened anti-aircraft fire Dec 30 last year for the first time against Syrian airplanes violating its airspace since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011.