Tel Aviv, Jan. 1 -- Israeli security agencies said Thursday they had uncovered a weapons smuggling network in the Negev desert that used drones to ferry arms across Israel's southern border from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

In a joint statement, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), and Israel Police said four Israeli citizens from the Bedouin community of Masoud al-Azazma in southern Israel were arrested about a month ago and are now facing charges.

According to investigators, the suspects were involved in multiple attempts to smuggle weapons into Israel using drones launched from the Sinai. During one such attempt, IDF forces shot down a drone carrying four machine guns, which were seized at the scene.

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