Israeli Air Force's observation balloon 'Sky Dew' takes off

After many months of the Israeli Air Force's advanced observation balloon "Sky Dew" being grounded because of a tear that led to an air leak, the balloon took to the sky for the first time on Saturday after components ordered from the U.S. arrived in the country as part of America's security assistance to Israel during the war.

The balloon, which contains an advanced radar device that enables airborne threats – such as aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles – to be detected, has never been operational and it will take some more time until it enters into the Air Force operations, during one of the most complex security periods that the State of Israel has known since its establishment.

The soldiers of the Egoz unit of the Commando Brigade operated in the Khan Younis area today, eliminating terrorists, and raiding and attacking terror targets and military supplies in civilian buildings. Within a terrorist infrastructure set up in a civilian house, Egoz soldiers found numerous military supplies, grenades, weapons, cartridges and vests used by Hamas terrorists.

In the north, sirens were heard on Saturday in more than 94 communities, due to rocket barrage. Several ground impacts were recorded in open areas in the Mount Meron area. The IDF returned fire, eliminating the terrorist squad and the launch post.