The Israel Defense Forces believes that the unidentified object that crossed into Israel from Lebanon on Saturday night, prompting troops to mobilize in the Western Galilee, was a balloon or a device kept aloft by hot air. A military investigation ruled out the possibility that it was a drone or hostile aircraft, although the object itself has yet to be located.
The incident began at around 8 p.m. local time Saturday, when a hostile aircraft infiltration alert was issued in the Arab al-Aramshe area, near the Lebanese border. Israeli Air Force surveillance and detection systems identified an airborne object crossing the border from Lebanon, tracked its movements and directed troops to the area.
The detection prompted the Ma'ale Yosef Regional Council to activate its security response procedures. Local emergency response teams were mobilized, and movement restrictions were imposed on nearby communities amid concerns that a security incident was unfolding.
After 24 hours of uncertainty and extensive searches, the military said that a thorough investigation indicated the object was not an unmanned aerial vehicle but a harmless item that had drifted into Israeli territory. According to the assessment, it was a balloon or some other device kept airborne by hot air.
Video: The suspicious object flying over the Western Galilee
The object's origin and purpose remain unknown, and it has not been recovered. The IDF stressed that despite the uncertainty surrounding the incident, there had been no changes to the Home Front Command's civilian safety guidelines.
The military also addressed criticism and questions from residents over the growing number of false alarms and interceptions in recent weeks, explaining that the Israeli Air Force was operating on heightened alert to protect civilians and troops.
"The difference between a drone and a bird is very small, so we take no chances," the military said.
The IDF added that once a threat is detected, a rapid response process is initiated, leading to the interception of the target.
Troops are continuing to search the area from the air and on the ground, while the military is conducting ongoing reviews of its detection systems to improve identification capabilities and draw lessons from similar incidents.
