This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-43014081
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 10 | Version 11 |
---|---|
Syria war: Israeli fighter jet crashes under Syria fire, military says | Syria war: Israeli fighter jet crashes under Syria fire, military says |
(about 2 hours later) | |
An Israeli F-16 fighter jet has crashed amid Syrian anti-aircraft fire after an offensive against Iranian targets in Syria, the Israeli military says. | An Israeli F-16 fighter jet has crashed amid Syrian anti-aircraft fire after an offensive against Iranian targets in Syria, the Israeli military says. |
The two pilots parachuted to safety before the crash in northern Israel. It is believed to be the first time Israel has lost a jet in the Syrian conflict. | The two pilots parachuted to safety before the crash in northern Israel. It is believed to be the first time Israel has lost a jet in the Syrian conflict. |
Israel was carrying out strikes after the launch of an Iranian drone into Israel. The drone was shot down. | Israel was carrying out strikes after the launch of an Iranian drone into Israel. The drone was shot down. |
Syria accused Israel of "aggression", as Israel then launched more strikes. | Syria accused Israel of "aggression", as Israel then launched more strikes. |
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say they struck targets inside Syria in the latest raids, including three aerial Syrian defence batteries and four Iranian military sites. | The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say they struck targets inside Syria in the latest raids, including three aerial Syrian defence batteries and four Iranian military sites. |
Israeli strikes in Syria are not unusual, the BBC's Middle East correspondent Tom Bateman says, but the loss of an Israeli fighter jet marks a serious escalation. | Israeli strikes in Syria are not unusual, the BBC's Middle East correspondent Tom Bateman says, but the loss of an Israeli fighter jet marks a serious escalation. |
In other developments in the Syrian conflict on Saturday: | In other developments in the Syrian conflict on Saturday: |
How did events unfold on Saturday morning? | How did events unfold on Saturday morning? |
The Israeli military said "a combat helicopter successfully intercepted an Iranian UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] that was launched from Syria and infiltrated Israel". | The Israeli military said "a combat helicopter successfully intercepted an Iranian UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] that was launched from Syria and infiltrated Israel". |
It tweeted footage which it says shows the drone flying into Israeli territory before being hit. | It tweeted footage which it says shows the drone flying into Israeli territory before being hit. |
The military said that in response the IDF had "targeted Iranian targets in Syria". It said the mission deep inside Syrian territory was successfully completed. | The military said that in response the IDF had "targeted Iranian targets in Syria". It said the mission deep inside Syrian territory was successfully completed. |
After coming under Syrian anti-aircraft fire, the F-16's two crew ejected and were later taken to hospital. One of them was "severely injured as a result of an emergency evacuation", the IDF said. | After coming under Syrian anti-aircraft fire, the F-16's two crew ejected and were later taken to hospital. One of them was "severely injured as a result of an emergency evacuation", the IDF said. |
It was not clear whether the F-16 jet was hit by anti-aircraft fire or went down near Harduf for other reasons. | It was not clear whether the F-16 jet was hit by anti-aircraft fire or went down near Harduf for other reasons. |
It is the first time Israel has lost an aircraft in combat since 2006 when an Israeli helicopter was shot down over Lebanon by a Hezbollah rocket, the Jerusalem Post reports. | It is the first time Israel has lost an aircraft in combat since 2006 when an Israeli helicopter was shot down over Lebanon by a Hezbollah rocket, the Jerusalem Post reports. |
All five crew on board - including a female flight mechanic - were killed in that incident. | All five crew on board - including a female flight mechanic - were killed in that incident. |
Alert sirens sounded in areas of northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights because of Syrian anti-aircraft fire. | |
Residents reported hearing a number of explosions and heavy aerial activity in the area near Israel's borders with Jordan and Syria. | Residents reported hearing a number of explosions and heavy aerial activity in the area near Israel's borders with Jordan and Syria. |
Syrian state media quoted a military source as saying that the country's air defences had opened fire in response to Israeli "aggression" against a military base on Saturday, hitting "more than one plane". | |
What did Israel do next? | What did Israel do next? |
Israel launched its second wave of strikes in Syria. Eight of the Syrian targets belonged to the fourth Syrian division near Damascus, IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus said. | Israel launched its second wave of strikes in Syria. Eight of the Syrian targets belonged to the fourth Syrian division near Damascus, IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus said. |
All the Israeli aircraft from this sortie returned safely. | All the Israeli aircraft from this sortie returned safely. |
"Syrians are playing with fire when they allow Iranians to attack Israel," the spokesman warned. | "Syrians are playing with fire when they allow Iranians to attack Israel," the spokesman warned. |
He added that Israel was willing to exact a heavy price in response but "we are not looking to escalate the situation". | He added that Israel was willing to exact a heavy price in response but "we are not looking to escalate the situation". |
Meanwhile Iran and the Tehran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon - which are allied with the Syrian government - dismissed the claim that an Iranian drone had entered Israeli airspace as a "lie". | |
Russia expressed "serious concern" over the Israeli air strikes and called for all sides to show restraint. | |
What is the Iranian presence in Syria? | What is the Iranian presence in Syria? |
Iran is Israel's arch-enemy, and Iranian troops have been fighting rebel groups since 2011. | Iran is Israel's arch-enemy, and Iranian troops have been fighting rebel groups since 2011. |
Tehran has sent military advisers, volunteer militias and, reportedly, hundreds of fighters from its Quds Force, the overseas arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). | Tehran has sent military advisers, volunteer militias and, reportedly, hundreds of fighters from its Quds Force, the overseas arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). |
It is also believed to have supplied thousands of tonnes of weaponry and munitions to help President Assad's forces and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, which is fighting on Syria's side. | It is also believed to have supplied thousands of tonnes of weaponry and munitions to help President Assad's forces and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, which is fighting on Syria's side. |
Tehran has faced accusations that it is seeking to establish not just an arc of influence but a logistical land supply line from Iran through to Hezbollah in Lebanon. | Tehran has faced accusations that it is seeking to establish not just an arc of influence but a logistical land supply line from Iran through to Hezbollah in Lebanon. |
What is the strategic context? | What is the strategic context? |
Analysis by BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus | Analysis by BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus |
For years Israel has been striking at weapons stores and other facilities in Syria with a single goal - to disrupt and as far as possible to prevent advanced Iranian missiles being delivered to Hezbollah in Lebanon. | For years Israel has been striking at weapons stores and other facilities in Syria with a single goal - to disrupt and as far as possible to prevent advanced Iranian missiles being delivered to Hezbollah in Lebanon. |
Syria has often been the conduit for these shipments. But the changing balance of power there, with the Assad regime's survival bolstered by Iranian help, has introduced a powerful new element - a direct Iranian role in the crisis. | Syria has often been the conduit for these shipments. But the changing balance of power there, with the Assad regime's survival bolstered by Iranian help, has introduced a powerful new element - a direct Iranian role in the crisis. |
A more confident Iran is alleged by Israel to be setting up bases in Syria (whether for its own or its proxy Shia militia forces is unclear). | A more confident Iran is alleged by Israel to be setting up bases in Syria (whether for its own or its proxy Shia militia forces is unclear). |
But it is also alleged to be developing missile factories, both there and in Lebanon, to make the supply lines to Hezbollah less vulnerable. | But it is also alleged to be developing missile factories, both there and in Lebanon, to make the supply lines to Hezbollah less vulnerable. |
Israel's campaign to disrupt missile supplies is becoming ever more complex. | Israel's campaign to disrupt missile supplies is becoming ever more complex. |
And Iran risks becoming a direct actor in this conflict, ever closer to Israel's own borders. | And Iran risks becoming a direct actor in this conflict, ever closer to Israel's own borders. |