The Israeli military says it has shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) belonging to Hezbollah near the northern port of Haifa.

A military spokeswoman said the drone was detected in Lebanese skies and intercepted by an F-16 fighter jet on Thursday, some nine kilometers off Haifa’s western coastline, AP reported.

A plane carrying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was visiting the Druze community in the north, was forced to land following the entrance of the drone into Israel.

In a statement, Netanyahu said the incident was of “extreme gravity.”

The Israeli navy is reportedly searching for the wreckage of the drone in the sea.

Also last October, a UAV sent by Hezbollah flew deep into Israel before being downed by an Israeli missile.