Hezbollah drone airstrip discovered in Bekaa , Lebanon

Satellite imagery suggests that Hezbollah has constructed a drone airstrip in Lebanon, roughly 10 miles from Syria’s border, to fly Iranian-made drones.

The global risk company IHS reported Thursday on the existence of a site used for unmanned aerial vehicles in the northern Bekaa Valley. The images, now available on Google Earth, indicate that the airstrip was created between February 2013 and June 2014.

Hezbollah sources confirmed the organization is using UAVs to support operations against rebel forces in Syria, “particularly over the mountainous Qalamoun region on Lebanon’s eastern border,” IHS reported.

Hezbollah, which is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department, was responsible for a drone that was shot down over Israel Oct. 6, 2012, The Telegraph reported Friday.

IHS Jane’s reported that the organization may be operating Iranian-made Ababil-3 or Shahed-129 aircraft at the site.

Washington Times