The Israel Defense Forces shot down a drone overnight Wednesday that was being used to smuggle weapons across the border from Egypt.

After intercepting the UAV, Israeli forces converged on the scene and secured four assault rifles and a pistol.

The weapons were handed over to the security forces for further analysis.

It was not immediately clear where or to whom the arms were destined.

Last week, the IDF foiled another attempt to smuggle weapons into Israel from Egypt using a drone.

The UAV was shot down by troops, who secured eight handguns from the crash site, along with magazines.

Meanwhile, IDF soldiers operating in southern Gaza have located dozens of cross-border tunnels used by Hamas terrorists to smuggle weapons into the enclave from Sinai.

Israeli ground forces took control of Gaza’s border with Egypt in late May. At the time, the IDF described the Philadelphi Corridor, which runs along the border, as Hamas’s “lifeline,” through which the terrorist group smuggled weapons and supplies into Gaza.

Yerushalayim maintains that control of the border is critical to ensuring that Hamas does not rearm and rebuild via smuggling tunnels with Egypt. During its months-long operation in Rafah and along the border, the IDF has uncovered many tunnels running under the corridor.

(JNS)