Alerts of a suspected aircraft infiltration were activated Wednesday morning in Metula and Avivim as IDF forces continued operating in villages in southern Lebanon. The aircraft near Avivim was intercepted, while in Metula the IDF said “the results of the interception are under review.” No casualties or damage were immediately reported. The two drones were detected in areas where the IDF is operating in Lebanon and did not cross into Israeli territory.
Meanwhile, the son of Amer Hujeirat of Shfaram, who was killed by an explosive drone in southern Lebanon and was himself lightly wounded in the incident, told ynet that although they had been promised an escort and radios, the force accompanying them moved away and they were left alone.
“My father was a beloved man, known for his good character. He believed the army was protecting us,” he said.
The son entered Lebanon with his father to carry out engineering work on behalf of the Defense Ministry and was wounded by shrapnel. “It is very hard to see your father killed before your eyes. It shook me,” he said.
“We reached the border and went in to work. We handed our phones to the IDF and were supposed to receive radios so we could stay in constant contact with the army, but they told us there was no need, that a tank would accompany us closely and protect us.
“The tank did accompany us, but after five minutes it turned around and moved away. We kept working, and an hour and a half later it was no longer near us. We saw it far away, behind a house. We were alone. I got on the engineering vehicle and suddenly saw a small, fast drone behind the excavator. It was flying low and focused its camera on us. I panicked and immediately jumped off the vehicle. It came to attack me. I ran and my father ran, but the drone chased him, and the explosive charge hit him and detonated. When we went in, they promised us the tank would stay to secure us, not leave and hide.”
The son added: “I asked my father to speak with them and ask that the tank come back closer to us. He told me the army was around us. When the drone arrived, we were alone. The army was not there. They did not protect us. If the tank had been next to us, it would have brought down the drone, my father would not have been killed and the charge would not have exploded on him. This was negligence. Even after the explosion, they did not come. I started shouting, and only after several minutes did they reach me.”
His cousin, Ahmad, said: “This is a very difficult case. It broke our hearts. Where were the security personnel? Where was the protection? In my view, there was major negligence in the incident. They took their phones and did not give them radios, so they could not make quick contact. I do not understand how people are left in the field without protection. We demand answers so this does not happen again. The loss is painful.”
He added: “When we went to the hospital, we waited, and only after seven hours did we receive an answer and were told of his death. We were under pressure. We began to suspect he had been kidnapped or that something else had happened. It put us in a very difficult emotional state. Amer, the deceased, had a good heart. He always helped people and gave his all to anyone who asked for help. I hope we will have the strength to cope with this disaster.”
The IDF has not yet responded to the claims.