Israeli drone crashes in southern Lebanon, IDF confirms

An Israeli drone crashed in the southern part of Lebanon, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Saturday morning after it was initially reported by Hezbollah's Al Manar Television network reported Saturday morning.

IDF said there was no risk of information being leaked, but that it was investigating the incident. 

Pictures of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) published by Arab media revealed its dispersed fragments with Hebrew writing visible.

The report by Al Manar suggested that an Israeli plane destroyed the 'spy drone' after it crash landed between the villages of Beit Yachon and Ra'ashit. It added that there was heavy airplane traffic overnight in the area.

Lebanese media said that army engineering forces had closed the area to scan the fragmented UAV. 

A similar incident occurred about a year ago when the Skylark-type drone, often used for reconnaissance in the field by Israeli troops, fell close to the border village of Alma Shaab in the mountainous Naqoura region.

At the time, the Lebanese Army said that Israeli officials asked UNIFIL troops to assist in recovering the craft.

An Israeli drone also fell in Syria last year, which the Israeli army suggested was due to a technical defect rather than being shot down.

The Hezbollah-affiliated television station that broke the news earlier Saturday was banned in the US after being flagged at the end of 2004 as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity."