This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syrian-war-shoots-down-israeli-aircraft-in-disputed-golan-heights-assad-netanyahu-a7239731.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Israel denies claim Syrian forces shot down its aircraft in disputed Golan Heights during fragile ceasefire | Israel denies claim Syrian forces shot down its aircraft in disputed Golan Heights during fragile ceasefire |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Israel has denied the Syrian government's claim to have shot down an Israeli fighter jet and drone at the start of a fragile seven-day truce in the country's civil war. | Israel has denied the Syrian government's claim to have shot down an Israeli fighter jet and drone at the start of a fragile seven-day truce in the country's civil war. |
| The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) immediately refuted the report, saying a Syrian anti-aircraft battery had shot at its aircraft but missed their target. | The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) immediately refuted the report, saying a Syrian anti-aircraft battery had shot at its aircraft but missed their target. |
| "Early this morning, two missiles were launched from Syria after the IAF targeted Syrian artillery positions," a spokesperson said. "IDF aircraft were not harmed." | "Early this morning, two missiles were launched from Syria after the IAF targeted Syrian artillery positions," a spokesperson said. "IDF aircraft were not harmed." |
| The Israeli Air Force said Syrian troops used surface-to-air missiles in the attempt but that it “at no point” compromised pilot safety. | The Israeli Air Force said Syrian troops used surface-to-air missiles in the attempt but that it “at no point” compromised pilot safety. |
| Bashar al-Assad's defence ministry previously issued a conflicting statement on Tuesday morning saying a fighter jet and drone were downed in Quneitra Governorate at 1am local time. | Bashar al-Assad's defence ministry previously issued a conflicting statement on Tuesday morning saying a fighter jet and drone were downed in Quneitra Governorate at 1am local time. |
| Officials claimed they were responding to “naked aggression [by the] Zionist enemy, supporting armed terrorist groups in a desperate attempt to raise morale that collapsed after heavy losses incurred in the Quneitra region”. | Officials claimed they were responding to “naked aggression [by the] Zionist enemy, supporting armed terrorist groups in a desperate attempt to raise morale that collapsed after heavy losses incurred in the Quneitra region”. |
| Quneitra borders Israel, Jordan and Lebanon and includes the disputed Golan Heights, which are partly occupied by Israel after being fought over in successive wars. | |
| Much of the region was seized by rebels in 2014 after battles with the Syrian Arab Army and remains split between government and opposition control amid continued fighting. | Much of the region was seized by rebels in 2014 after battles with the Syrian Arab Army and remains split between government and opposition control amid continued fighting. |
| Tuesday's dispute came hours after Israel announced its fighter jets had struck artillery positions manned by Syrian regime troops after a mortar landed in the occupied Golan Heights. | |
| The incident was the fifth since last week in which fighting in Syria has spilled over into Israeli-occupied territory, and the first since a fragile truce brokered by the US and Russia came into effect. | The incident was the fifth since last week in which fighting in Syria has spilled over into Israeli-occupied territory, and the first since a fragile truce brokered by the US and Russia came into effect. |
| The ceasefire came into force at sunset on Monday but Isis and the formerly al-Qaeda linked Jabhat al-Nusra group were excluded, while other rebel factions have refused to commit. | The ceasefire came into force at sunset on Monday but Isis and the formerly al-Qaeda linked Jabhat al-Nusra group were excluded, while other rebel factions have refused to commit. |
| Despite his forces being part of the truce, President Assad vowed to take back the country from "terrorists" - a term used to describe all opposition groups. | Despite his forces being part of the truce, President Assad vowed to take back the country from "terrorists" - a term used to describe all opposition groups. |
| Israel has largely remained on the sidelines of the fighting along its border, but has carried out reprisals on Syrian positions when errant fire has previously landed in Israel. | Israel has largely remained on the sidelines of the fighting along its border, but has carried out reprisals on Syrian positions when errant fire has previously landed in Israel. |
| The IDF is also widely believed to have carried out airstrikes on arms shipments destined for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, a close ally of Assad. | The IDF is also widely believed to have carried out airstrikes on arms shipments destined for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, a close ally of Assad. |
| Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the Six Day War of 1967, before Syrian forces led an unsuccessful counter-offensive in 1973, and Israel effectively annexed the vast majority of the occupied territory in 1981. | Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the Six Day War of 1967, before Syrian forces led an unsuccessful counter-offensive in 1973, and Israel effectively annexed the vast majority of the occupied territory in 1981. |
| The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) was set up to monitor a ceasefire established in the region but fighting between the Syrian regime and rebels has frequently spilled over into the demilitarised area since 2012, sparking Israeli air strikes in Syrian territory. | The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) was set up to monitor a ceasefire established in the region but fighting between the Syrian regime and rebels has frequently spilled over into the demilitarised area since 2012, sparking Israeli air strikes in Syrian territory. |