Israel Intercepts Iranian Plane, Redirects It Over Syria

Israeli fighter jets intercepted an Iranian aircraft over Syria on Sunday night, forcing it to return to Tehran on suspicion of carrying weapons to Hezbollah. The operation underscores Israel’s ongoing commitment to enforcing the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon and countering Iranian-backed arms smuggling.

The interception aligns with the “Letter of Guarantees,” an annex to the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement, which highlights U.S.-Israel cooperation in countering Iranian destabilization efforts. Provisions include halting arms transfers into Lebanon and granting Israel operational freedom to address ceasefire violations.

The IDF has intensified efforts to disrupt Hezbollah’s arms smuggling since the truce took effect on November 27. On Saturday, Israeli forces struck infrastructure along the Syria-Lebanon border used by Hezbollah for weapons transfers. The IDF confirmed that the targeted sites posed a direct threat to Israel and violated the ceasefire terms.

In a statement, the military accused Hezbollah of using civilian crossing points, with support from Syria’s Assad regime, to move weapons into Lebanon. These operations have been a focus of Israel’s air campaign, which has targeted Hezbollah’s Unit 4400 responsible for smuggling weapons from Iran via Syria.

IDF troops remain stationed in Southern Lebanon, responding to violations of the ceasefire. On Saturday, soldiers eliminated several Hezbollah operatives near a church after they fired at Israeli positions. Weapons and a tunnel shaft were discovered during a subsequent search of the site.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s resolve: “We are determined to protect Israel’s vital interests and strictly enforce the ceasefire agreement. Every violation is met with a strong IDF response.”

While Jerusalem insists its actions are in line with enforcing the ceasefire, France part of the U.S.-led monitoring mechanism accused Israel of committing 52 violations. These include Israeli drone activity and reported civilian casualties in Lebanon. French officials called for patience to allow Lebanese authorities to demonstrate compliance.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded by emphasizing that Hezbollah’s presence south of the Litani River remains a fundamental breach of the agreement. He warned that any violation would elicit a significant Israeli response.

As ceasefire monitoring mechanisms accelerate, the IDF remains vigilant against threats from Hezbollah and Iran. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for updates on Israel’s security operations and regional developments.