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Israel shoots down Syrian aircraft that entered its air space | Israel shoots down Syrian aircraft that entered its air space |
(34 minutes later) | |
Israel has shot down a Syrian aircraft that entered its air space. | Israel has shot down a Syrian aircraft that entered its air space. |
Shortly after 7.50am (BST) the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) released a statement saying the aircraft was “intercepted” by the Patriot air defence system. | Shortly after 7.50am (BST) the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) released a statement saying the aircraft was “intercepted” by the Patriot air defence system. |
It is designed to stop incoming planes and missiles, tracking them with radar and exploding them as they enter Israeli territory. | It is designed to stop incoming planes and missiles, tracking them with radar and exploding them as they enter Israeli territory. |
The IDF provided no information on where the Syrian plane was intercepted or whether contact was made to ascertain why it was there. | The IDF provided no information on where the Syrian plane was intercepted or whether contact was made to ascertain why it was there. |
A spokesperson said: “The circumstances of the incident are being reviewed.” | A spokesperson said: “The circumstances of the incident are being reviewed.” |
It could not be immediately confirmed whether there were any casualties but a photo shared by a journalist on Twitter claimed to show two Syrian pilots parachuting to the ground after ejecting from their plane. | It could not be immediately confirmed whether there were any casualties but a photo shared by a journalist on Twitter claimed to show two Syrian pilots parachuting to the ground after ejecting from their plane. |
#Syria | 2 Syrian pilots seen after #Israel downed their aircraft earlier near Kanaker pic.twitter.com/2gTLxTrmdj | #Syria | 2 Syrian pilots seen after #Israel downed their aircraft earlier near Kanaker pic.twitter.com/2gTLxTrmdj |
Israel Radio claimed the aircraft was a drone and was shot down over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, where fighting from Syria's civil war has occasionally spilled over. | Israel Radio claimed the aircraft was a drone and was shot down over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, where fighting from Syria's civil war has occasionally spilled over. |
The Golan Heights - along the two countries' border - were annexed by Israel in 1981 and the IDF launched operations in Syrian territory in May 2013, prompting Assad to warn he would "respond to any Israeli aggression next time". | The Golan Heights - along the two countries' border - were annexed by Israel in 1981 and the IDF launched operations in Syrian territory in May 2013, prompting Assad to warn he would "respond to any Israeli aggression next time". |
Israeli Army Radio said it may have been a Syrian fighter plane. | |
Additional reporting by Reuters | Additional reporting by Reuters |