An Israeli drone was spotted flying above Beirut and its southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, for several days.
Lebanon's National News Agency reported the unmanned aircraft's presence, describing it as an "enemy drone".
Lebanon and Israel are technically at war since the Arab-Israeli war of 1948. A source from the Lebanese army confirmed that the drone was Israeli.
The drone was loud enough to be heard across Beirut on Sunday night, prompting many residents to comment about the noise on Twitter.
"Friend’s video from last night. Many mentioned #Israel #drone over #Beirut & all parts of #Lebanon is the norm. We hear it clearly now due to curfew & little noise pollution," tweeted Rita Kabalan, a photographer based in the Lebanese capital.
On March 15, the government curtailed opening hours for shops and imposed restrictions on movement at night to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus which has infected 630 people and killed 20 in Lebanon since February 21.
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Coronavirus in the Middle East
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An orderly helps a patient leave hospital after recovering from the coronavirus in the city of Sale, north of the Moroccan capital Rabat. AFP -
A Palestinian girl at her window displays a package of crafts and reading material distributed by volunteers for the Women's Program Centre to children in the Deir Al Balah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. AFP -
An ambulance transports two Palestinian patients who recovered from Covid-19, in the West Bank city of Nablus. EPA -
A family takes a walk while wearing face masks in the upmarket neighbourhood of Zamalek in Cairo. Reuters -
A handout picture provided by Saudi writer and journalist Taghreed Al Tassan shows her taking a selfie at a hotel in Riyadh where she has been quarantined after testing positive for coronavirus. Saudi Arabia has quarantined thousands of people in hotels, some in luxury suites, to combat COVID-19. AFP -
People wear protective face masks in front of the closed El Sayeda Zainab Mosque near markets that sell traditional Ramadan lanterns, in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters -
A zoo employee wearing a face mask sprays disinfectant as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus at the closed Giza Zoo, in Giza, Egypt. EPA -
Wael, one of the sons of Palestinian Karate coach Khaled Sheikh Eid, trains on the rooftop of his family house at a refugee camp in Rafah in the Gaza Strip. AFP -
A man walks in a deserted street in front of the Erbil citadel in Iraq. AFP -
A civil defence worker sprays disinfectant in Baghdad, Iraq. AP Photo -
A patient who recovered from the coronavirus kisses the ground in the city of Sale, north of the Moroccan capital Rabat. AFP -
Streets are empty in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA -
Streets are empty in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
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On April 7, the interior ministry reduced traffic further by introducing the odd-even number plate system that allows cars on the road only every other day, with no traffic allowed on Sundays.
Israeli drones regularly breach Lebanon's airspace despite complaints to the United Nations. The Lebanese army, which does not have the capacity to stand up to Israel, rarely retaliates.
Last August, two Israeli drones crashed over a Hezbollah building in south Beirut, causing minor injuries to three people.
A few days later, a Lebanese soldier opened fire with his M16 assault rifle at three Israeli drones hovering above a military camp near the border, drawing praise from Lebanese politicians.
In early September, Hezbollah retaliated by firing anti-tank missiles at Israeli targets across the border. Israel responded by shelling Lebanese territory. Both sides claimed there were no casualties.
Israel and Hezbollah last fought in the 34-day war of 2006.
