Israel admits firing at civilian plane over occupied West Bank

The Israeli military acknowledged on Friday that its forces fired on a civilian aircraft flying over the occupied West Bank after misidentifying it as a hostile drone, according to Israeli media. The incident occurred on Thursday evening as the aircraft was en route to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.

Military opens probe after firing on plane

Israeli troops deployed near the settlement of Beit El in the central West Bank opened fire on the plane after residents alerted authorities about unidentified aerial objects, The Times of Israel reported. Flight paths to the airport had been diverted eastward, causing aircraft to fly at lower altitudes over the settlement and potentially contributing to the confusion.

The military is examining whether a police drone operating in the area at the same time may have triggered reports of unidentified aerial objects, according to the report. Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the circumstances that led troops to mistake the civilian aircraft for a threat.

No damage reported in incident

There were no reports of damage to the aircraft or injuries resulting from the gunfire, The Times of Israel said. The military did not specify what type of fire was directed at the plane or how many rounds were discharged.

Hezbollah drone threat raises tensions

The incident comes amid growing concern in Israel over drones launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described drones as a major threat due to the difficulty of detecting and intercepting them.

Israeli officials have in recent weeks acknowledged challenges in countering explosive-laden drones launched by Hezbollah toward military positions in southern Lebanon and communities in northern Israel. The occupation forces have struggled to develop effective countermeasures against the low-flying unmanned aircraft.