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 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-44940599

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Israel shoots down Syrian fighter near Golan Heights Israel 'shoots down' Syrian fighter near Golan Heights
(35 minutes later)
Israel has shot down a Syrian warplane flying over its airspace over southern Golan, according to its military. Israel has shot down a Syrian warplane which crossed into its airspace, the Israeli military says.
The Israel Defense Forces tweeted that two Patriot missiles were fired at the Syrian Sukhoi fighter jet, which it said was one mile inside Israeli airspace. Two surface-to-air missiles were fired at the Sukhoi fighter jet, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tweeted.
Unconfirmed reports say that a pilot was killed. According to Israeli reports, it happened over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Unconfirmed reports say that a pilot was killed.
Syrian news agency SANA said Israel had targeted one of its jets over its airspace, but did not say it was hit. Syrian news agency Sana said Israel had targeted one of its jets over Syrian airspace, but did not say it was hit.
The agency quoted a military source as saying the plane was conducting raids against "armed terrorist groups" near the Yarmouk Valley. The agency quoted a military source as saying the plane was conducting raids against "armed terrorist groups" near the southern Yarmouk Valley.
Haaretz news website reports residents in north Israel saw interceptor missiles fired and heard explosions. Syria routinely describes rebel groups as terrorists.
In a statement, the IDF said it was on "high alert" following "an increase in the internal fighting in Syria" and greater activity by Syria's air force. Israel's Haaretz news website said residents in northern Israel saw interceptor missiles fired and heard explosions.
Flames and smoke were also later seen rising from the area of the fence between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights, AFP news agency reports.
In a statement, the IDF said it was on "high alert" following "an increase in the internal fighting in Syria" and greater activity by Syria's air force in the region.
"The IDF monitored the advance of the fighter jet, which infiltrated about two kilometres (1.25 miles) into Israeli airspace. It was then intercepted by the Patriot missiles."
It is reportedly the first time Israel has shot down a manned Syrian aircraft since 2014.It is reportedly the first time Israel has shot down a manned Syrian aircraft since 2014.
The shooting follows the day after Israel used its David's Sling missile defence system for the first time. The incident comes just a day after Israel used its David's Sling missile defence system - used against medium-range missiles - for the first time.
The system was activated when two Syrian surface-to-surface missiles seemed to approach Israeli airspace. The system was activated "in response to the threat" from two Syrian surface-to-surface missiles approaching Israeli territory, an army statement said.
On Monday, the Syrian government condemned the evacuation by Israel over the weekend of the White Helmets civil defence group from a war zone in the south of the country.
Damascus described the move as a "criminal operation" by "Israel and its tools".
Some 422 volunteers and family members were taken to Jordan via the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
It was feared that they would be persecuted by advancing government forces in southern Syria.