FINALLY! Syrians shoot down another fighter jet - IDF forced to admit loss of craft as it crashes in Israel

RT
Sat, 10 Feb 2018 07:35 UTC

© Herzie Shapira / Reuters

Israeli security forces walk next to the remains of an F-16 Israeli war plane near the Israeli village of Harduf, Israel February 10, 2018

An Israeli F-16 fighter jet crashed in the country's north after Syria responded with anti-aircraft fire to an Israeli operation targeting Iranian control systems in Syria, IDF said.

"Massive Syrian Anti-Air fire, one F16 crashed in Israel, pilots safe," IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus said on Twitter.

The incident took place after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted an Iranian UAV, which crossed from the territory of Syria into Israel. In response, the Israeli military attacked Iranian positions in Syria. The operation triggered anti-aircraft fire by Syrian forces.

Israeli "aggression" targeted an army base in the central region of Syria, Sana reported, citing a military official. Syrian air defenses struck more than one jet responding to the aggression, the official said.

Images emerged online purporting to show the F-16 crash site and an operation to evacuate the pilots.

IDF spokesman Ronen Manelis earlier said:

"We identified an Iranian drone UAV which took off from Syrian territory. The drone was identified by IAF systems and was downed by an IAF helicopter. The Iranian drone fell in our territory and is in our possession."

He described Israeli operation in Syria as "a surgical action deep in Syria."

Comment: What were they doing there? Were they invited? No? THEN GO HOME (or be shot down).

Red alert sirens were heard in multiple areas across northern Israel, initially in the town of Beit She'an and later in the surrounding areas and Golan Heights. Local residents told Haaretz that they heard many blasts and reported heavy aerial activity in the area near the Jordanian and Syrian borders.

© Jack Guez / AFP

The remains of an Israeli F-16 that crashed after being hit by Syrian air defences during attacks against 'Iranian targets' in Syria, February 10, 2018.

Syria has repeatedly protested Israeli attacks on targets inside Syria. Earlier this week, Israeli warplanes attacked military targets near Damascus from Lebanese airspace, with the Syrian Army claiming it destroyed most of the Israeli rockets. In January, Israel launched three attacks on military targets in Syria, using jets and ground-to-ground missiles. Back then, Damascus claimed that it shot down one Israeli jet and one missile.

Comment: Wait, it gets better:

Iran & Syria 'are playing with fire,' Israeli military warns amid flare-up of tensions

RT, Sat 10 Feb, 2018

The IDF warned Syria and Iran against 'violating Israeli sovereignty,' otherwise they would pay a heavy price. The Israeli military also insisted that Israel does not seek an escalation in tensions in the region.

"Iran and Syria are playing with fire," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Twitter. The military added that it acts "with determination" against "the attempt of the Iranian-Syrian attack and the violation of Israeli sovereignty. The IDF is prepared for a variety of scenarios and will continue to act as necessary."

The IDF lashed out at the Syrian military, accusing the state of interference in the Israeli-Iranian incident, as well as at Iran for "using Syria as a launchpad for activity against Israel."

However, the IDF insisted that Israel does not seek escalation with the two states. "We are willing, prepared and capable to exact a heavy price from anyone that attacks us, however we are not looking to escalate the situation," the IDF said, insisting that what they've done was merely "a defensive effort triggered by an Iranian act of aggression and we are defending our airspace our sovereignty and civilians."