In a first, an Israeli Air Force helicopter gunship intercepted two drones during a smuggling attempt from Egypt into Israeli airspace on Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces said, releasing footage of the incident.

According to the military, IDF surveillance units and the air force’s aerial control center identified two drones crossing “from the west” toward Israeli territory. The aircraft was dispatched in coordination with the 80th “Edom” Division and shot down the drones as they entered Israeli airspace.

A senior air force official said the interception reflects a broader shift in Israel’s border-defense approach amid a surge in the use of drones to smuggle weapons across the border.

“As part of a deep change in our border-defense doctrine, the air force has established control centers operating under the regional divisions, significantly improving detection capabilities and the direction of forces against low-altitude aerial threats,” the official said.

The official added that the interception marks the first operation of its kind.

“We continue to enhance cooperation and operational capabilities to thwart infiltrations along the border,” the official said.

תיעוד מיוחד: מסוק קרב יירט שני רחפנים בעת ניסיון חדירה לשטח הארץ........

© The Times of Israel