An initial probe by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) into the drone explosion near Binyamina has uncovered that two unmanned aerial vehicles, believed to be Shahed 107 models, infiltrated Israeli airspace from Lebanon via the Mediterranean Sea. IDF surveillance systems detected the drones and the Israeli Navy successfully intercepted one off the coast of Nahariya. The second drone, however, became the subject of an aerial pursuit involving fighter jets and combat helicopters. According to the preliminary findings, the IDF lost contact with this drone during the chase.
Video: Interception of a UAV at sea in the Karyot area (Credit: Usage under Israeli Intellectual Property Law Section 27a)
Several tense minutes passed before the drone detonated, resulting in injuries to 67 people, with four in critical condition. The Israeli Air Force is currently investigating the circumstances that led to the drone evading detection, noting that the loss of contact was the primary reason no warning was issued to residents in the affected area. Another piece of information that emerged only Tuesday was that residents of Yokne'am Illit said they reported seeing the drones several minutes before it hit, and passed it through to the IDF by calling the police, only to be told by the air force that "everything is in order."
Eli Bin, Director General of Magen David Adom, Israel's national emergency medical service, reported that among the 67 injured, four have died. An additional seven individuals suffered severe injuries, while the remainder experienced moderate to light wounds.
The injured were swiftly evacuated to various medical facilities across the region. Helicopters airlifted some of the wounded to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer and Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa. Ground ambulances transported others to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera, HaEmek Medical Center in Afula, Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, Laniado Hospital in Netanya, and both Carmel Medical Center and Bnai Zion Medical Center in Haifa. Medical staff reported treating patients for shrapnel wounds and blast injuries.
Video: Ambulances leave to Sheba Medical Center (Credit: Sheba Medical Center)
The incident began when Hezbollah launched at least two drones into Israeli airspace. Air raid sirens blared across the Western Galilee at 6:50 PM, including in the cities of Acre and Nahariya, as Israel's air defense system successfully intercepted one of the drones. However, a second drone managed to penetrate deep into Israeli territory, eventually exploding in the Ramat Menashe area, just outside Binyamina, without triggering any local warnings. Hezbollah promptly claimed responsibility for the attack, framing it as retaliation for recent IDF operations in Lebanon, with a particular emphasis on strikes in Beirut.
