Israeli Fighters Down Three Drones of 'Islamic Resistance of Iraq'

Israeli fighter jets shot down three drones launched towards Israel by Iranian-backed militants in Iraq on Thursday night and Friday morning, June 4. According to 'Times of Israel', the Israeli army reported that two drones were downed over Eilat, the southernmost city in Israel. The third drone was intercepted over the northern city of Safed, with debris from the downed missile causing no damage. The Israeli army stated that 'Islamic Resistance of Iraq' - a group of Iranian proxy militants - has claimed responsibility for dozens of drone attacks on Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza, most of which have been intercepted by Israeli air defense. The Israeli army also claims that many of the Iranian-backed militants' claims about drone attacks on Israel are exaggerated, although in one instance they succeeded in targeting an Israeli naval base in Eilat, causing some damage. Israeli fighter jets identified and shot down two 'suspicious aerial targets' that were believed to be drones flying from the 'eastern direction' towards Eilat on Thursday night. The Israeli army noted that no sirens were activated as the suspicious drones were downed outside of Israeli airspace. Shortly after this incident, Iranian-backed Iraqi militants claimed to have launched two drones towards a 'vital target' in the southernmost city of Israel. The Israeli army confirmed that the third drone had also not entered Israeli airspace. Israeli defense forces stated that debris from a missile used in the drone interception caused a fire near Safed, but no damage was reported. The Israeli army announced that this incident is under investigation. According to the Israeli army, fighter jets and a '4.5 Saar class' missile boat shot down three drones launched by the militants on Monday. Amid the ongoing war in Gaza, Iranian-backed armed groups in Iraq, Yemen, and Syria have claimed to have launched dozens of drones towards Israel. The Iranian government itself attacked Israel on April 14 with hundreds of drones and missiles, of which Israeli air defense, with the help of the United States and Jordan, intercepted over ninety percent. The Gaza war began after Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of about 250 individuals, including children, women, and the elderly.