Syrian air defenses intercept Israeli spy planes over Quneitra, forcing them to leave

Sputnik
Thu, 15 Feb 2018 09:30 UTC

© AP Photo/ Ariel Schalit, File

An Israeli army Heron unmanned drone aircraft

Just a few days after the downing of an Israeli fighter jet on Syrian territory, Tel Aviv has reportedly made another attempt to enter Syrian airspace using reconnaissance planes.

Israeli spy planes have been tackled by the Syrian air defense forces in the country's southwestern province of Quneitra, prompting these aircraft to retreat, according to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

SANA reported that "Syrian air defenses have repelled Israeli surveillance planes over Quneitra, forcing them to leave Syrian airspace."

The incident came after the Syrian anti-aircraft systems shot down an Israeli F-16 fighter jet over Syrian soil on February 10.

The Israeli military said that its helicopter intercepted an Iranian drone allegedly launched from Syria and that the Israeli Air Force struck Iranian targets in Syria.

The Israeli moves prompted fire from the Syrian air defenses, resulting in an Israeli F-16 fighter jet being hit.

The Israel Defense Forces then reported about the second wave of the attack, in which they allegedly struck about 12 targets in Syria, including Syrian air defense batteries and Iranian military facilities.

The interception came just a day after Damascus warned the US and its Western allies against conducting airstrikes on Syria, saying it "will down any jet that launches an assault" on the country.

Comment: Syrian air defense forces have forced an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft to leave the airspace of the country, after it was seen in the sky over El Quneitra.

"We have no comment on this," said an employee of the Israeli army press service.

A military source in Damascus informed Al-Masdar News that the Syrian Air Defense confronted several Israeli drones near the border of the occupied Golan Heights.

According to the source, the Syrian Air Defense was able to force the Israeli drones to retreat from the Al-Quneitra Governorate to the occupied Golan Heights.

The military source added that the Syrian Air Defense is on high alert in southwestern Syria, as they expect the Israeli Air Force to react in the coming hours or days.

See also: Israeli minister threatens to destroy Syrian air defenses