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Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Israeli Army vehicles and helicopters are seen in an open area as they search for the remains of a drone in the Negev southern Israel, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Yehuda Lachiani) ISRAEL OUT

Lebanon's state news agency says Israeli warplanes have staged mock raids over villages in southern Lebanon, breaking the sound barrier.

The National News Agency says the planes flew low over the market town of Nabatiyeh and nearby villages on Sunday.

The exercise comes a day after the Israeli military shot down a drone that crossed deep into Israel from the Mediterranean Sea, marking the first time in at least six years that a hostile aircraft has penetrated Israeli airspace.

It was not immediately clear who launched the drone, but suspicion quickly fell on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The Iranian-backed group is known to have sent drones into Israel on several previous occasions.

The Israeli military declined to comment on reports that its jets flew over southern Lebanon.