Israeli planes dropping propaganda leaflets over Beirut on Friday caused a number of loud booms in the sky, terrifying residents of the capital.AFP correspondents in Beirut heard four successive booms at short intervals, before clouds of paper leaflets appeared high in the air, as observed by AFP's photographer.
State media said that the noise was "caused by Israeli aircraft flying at a very low altitude and dropping leaflets over a number of areas, specifically in Verdun, Hamra, and Ain al-Mreisseh", western Beirut neighbourhoods.
One of the leaflets that was dropped, addressed to the Lebanese people, said: "You must disarm Hezbollah, Iran's shield," and "Lebanon is your decision, not someone else's."
The leaflet included a QR code, along with the phrase: "Unit 504 is working to secure the future of Lebanon and its people."
Unit 504 is an Israeli military intelligence unit. Leaflet drops are a tactic also used in Gaza.
