By EYTAN HALON, ARIANE MANDELLUpdated: JUNE 29, 2017 18:35Israeli "Skylark" drone crash site inIsraeli "Skylark" drone crash site in Lebanon, May 2017.(photo credit: ARAB MEDIA)
An IDF unmanned Skylark surveillance drone crashed in the Bethlehem area of the West Bank in Israel on Thursday evening. The IDF tracked down and recovered the wreckage, and is currently investigating the situation. The cause of the crash has not yet been declared.According to the IDF, there is no concern that confidential information has been jeopardized due to the incident.There have been several drone crashes in enemy territory since Skylark was delivered to IDF ground forces in 2010, most recently in May when one crashed in Lebanon.The Skylark, built by Elbit Systems and operated by the artillery corps, is the IDF’s smallest drone measuring in at seven and a half feet and operates on all fronts for tactical surveillance. It can be launched by one or two soldiers and can be operated on the roof of buildings or in the back of armored personnel carriers, providing live-video to operators once airborne.In March, Hezbollah claimed to have shot down a Skylark after the group claimed it infiltrated Syrian airspace in Quneitra. The Syrian Defense Ministry later released a statement that its air defense unit had shot down a drone over the outskirts of Quneitra, without specifying the UAV’s origin. The IDF’s Spokesperson’s Unit denied the reports that the drone had been shot down.Anna Ahronheim contributed to this report.
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