ISTANBUL

An Iran-backed Iraqi militia group claimed on Friday drone attacks on “vital targets” in Israel, which continues air and ground attacks in Lebanon as well as Gaza.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said in a statement that it “attacked a vital target in the occupied city of Um al-Rashrash (Eilat) using drones."

The Israeli army in a statement said it intercepted a drone that had breached Israeli airspace following the sounding of air raid sirens around the city of Ashkelon in southern Israel.

The statement said the drone "came from the east," without providing further details.

This comes a day after the Iraqi group claimed responsibility for attacking a "vital target" in the occupied Golan Heights using drones.

The Israeli army later reported intercepting two drones "coming from the east."

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi in Ankara