Hezbollah chief vows to down any Israeli drone violating Lebanese airspace

The Lebanese Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned on Sunday that his fighters will bring down any Israeli drone that violates Lebanese airspace, local TV Channel Al Manar reported.

The Lebanese Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah delivers a speech on a big screen. [File Photo: IC]

"Since the Israeli war against Lebanon in 2006, we managed to avert drones that enter Lebanon's skies. We did so because we did not want to be accused of impacting Lebanon's economy and tourism," said Nasrallah in a televised speech.

"But the drones that entered Lebanon's skies today are suicidal ... It is our right to respond to such violations," he added.

The Hezbollah leader warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to think that such violation could go without a response.

"If we do not respond to this violation, it will simply happen over and over again similar to the scenario taking place in Iraq," he explained.

"The resistance will not allow such a scenario to be repeated in Lebanon whatever the cost will be," Nasrallah concluded.

Earlier in the day, an Israeli drone was brought down over the southern suburbs of Lebanon's capital Beirut, while a second one exploded in the air, causing severe damage to a media center belonging to Hezbollah.

This is the first clear Israeli attack against Lebanon since 2006.

In addition, Nasrallah vowed revenge for an overnight Israeli strike inside Syria that hit a house with Hezbollah fighters, killing two of them.