The Israeli military has announced the interception of a drone attempting to smuggle weapons across the Egyptian border early Friday, marking the latest in a string of cross-border smuggling incidents over the past year.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), surveillance operators detected the drone as it crossed into Israeli airspace, prompting troops from the Paran Regional Brigade to act swiftly and shoot it down. Upon inspection, the drone was found carrying three assault rifles, which were subsequently handed over to police for further investigation.
Military officials say the use of drones for smuggling weapons and narcotics across the Egyptian border has become increasingly frequent. The IDF and national security agencies have been intensifying efforts to monitor and intercept such activities along the volatile frontier.
On Thursday, Defense Minister Israel Katz declared what he called a “war” on drone smuggling operations, directing the military to designate parts of the border as a closed military zone. He further instructed the Shin Bet security service to classify such smuggling attempts as acts of terrorism.
Earlier this week, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered a renewed focus of military resources to counter drone threats along the Egyptian border, citing growing concerns about the evolving tactics of smugglers and militant networks in the region.
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