IDF Skylark drone malfunctions during Gaza City operation, seized by Palestinians
An Israeli soldier launches a Skylark unmanned aerial vehicle near the border with Gaza July 21, 2014 (photo credit: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)
A video which surfaced online following the drone’s landing shows local Gazans inspecting the UAV, before carrying it away to an undisclosed location.
An IDF Skylark 3 reconnaissance drone made an emergency landing in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City following a technical malfunction, the IDF confirmed on Saturday.
The drone fell while the military was carrying out operational activities within the city, KAN News first reported, with the IDF adding that fears of intelligence leaks due to the drone’s malfunction have been ruled out.
The Skylark drone, developed by Israeli defense company Elbit Systems, weighs 40 kg. and can fly around for six hours at up to 15,000 ft., with a range of up to 100 kilometers.
A video which surfaced online following the drone’s landing shows local Gazans inspecting the UAV, before carrying it away to an undisclosed location.
Palestinians inspect a downed Skylark 3 drone in Gaza City, August 16, 2025 (SOCIAL MEDIA/VIA SECTION 27A OF COPYRIGHT ACT)
IDF begins operating on outskirts of Gaza City
On Friday, IDF soldiers from the 99th Division began operating in the Zeitun area, located on the outskirts of Gaza City, ahead of plans to occupy the city as part of a new Israeli strategy in the Strip.
The military said that soldiers were working to locate explosives, eliminate terrorists, and dismantle terrorist infrastructure above and below ground.
As part of their activity, Israeli forces struck and dismantled a booby-trapped structure that stored weapons.
