Following Syrian missile fire on IDF jet, Israel destroys launcher

— SPECIAL SECURITY REPORT —

After Syrian anti-aircraft missile missed an IAF aircraft while conducting a routine flight over northern Israel, Israeli jets responded forceable by destroying the missile launcher, maintaining its zero-tolerance for aggression against the Jewish State.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF, SETH J. FRANTZMAN, HERB KEINON

 

The IAF destroyed a Syrian launcher that fired an anti-aircraft missile at an Israeli plane, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday night, stressing that Israel will not tolerate any aggression against it.

“A short time ago, the Syrian army tried to hit an Israeli plane, it did not succeed,” Netanyahu said in a video statement. “The air force in response destroyed the launcher from which if [the missile] was was fired. Our policy is clear – we will not tolerate any aggression against us, and we will respond to it with force and firmness.”

Israeli Air Force during routine flights over the Golan Heights. – Photo Major Ofer, Israeli Air Force/Wikimedia

Netanyahu’s message came just two hours after he spoke live to the cameras about the current political crisis stemming from his inability to form a coalition just 48 hours before the deadline to do so expires.

The IDF spokesman said the Syrian missile didn’t hit the Israeli aircraft, which was conducting a routine flight over northern Israel, and fell within Syrian territory. The mission was completed as planned, the IDF said.

Arab media, meanwhile reported of air strikes near Quneitra.

Syria’s SANA reported that “a military source confirmed that at 2110 hours the Israeli enemy targeted one of our military positions east of Khan Arnabeh in rural Quneitra.”

The source explained that the aggression resulted in the “martyr’s death and wounding another fighter.”

According to Syrian media the strike took place near Khan Arnabeh which is very close to the Golan border and right next to line Bravo of the demilitarized zone near UNDOF areas. UN observers returned last summer after the Syrian regime retook this area near the border. An IDF statement said that Israel views with severity any threat to its aircraft and takes measures to defend them.

Last August Russia also deployed military police in southern Syria as part of the Syrian regime’s efforts to reconcile with the former rebel-held areas.

The attempt represents an escalation on the Syrian side. It is not the first time that Syria anti-aircraft missiles have targeted Israel, or the first time they have been detected heading toward Israeli airspace.

In January, Iron Dome was activated on Mount Hermon to intercept a rocket. In December 2018, a Syrian anti-aircraft missile was fired toward Israel from Syria. In November of 2018, fragments of a Syrian rocket were found in the Golan.  An F-16 crashed in the Galilee after being targeted by Syrian air-defense in October 2018. Rockets from Syria fell inside Israeli territory in July 2018.

David’s Sling was used operationally for the first time that month to defend against the rockets. In March 2017, Israel used its Arrow defense system against Syrian air defense.

In late March, Syrian media claimed Israel attacked a site near Aleppo and on April 13 and May 18, Syrian state media made similar claims.

Israel said last year that it had struck hundreds of targets in Syria, primarily Iranian targets related to weapons shipments. In January, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot told The New York Times that Israel had struck thousands of targets in Syria.

But for Syria to target a routine patrol inside Israel is unusual. Syria is already embroiled in new air raids in Idlib against Syrian rebels and the US and Iran are involved in major tensions in the region.

 

View original The Jerusalem Post publication at:
https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Israeli-drone-brought-down-over-the-Golan-by-Syrian-anti-aircraft-missile-590824