Israel downs intruding unmanned aircraft from Syria

 

The IDF successfully launched a Patriot missile & destroyed an unknown UAV that violated Israeli airspace over the Golan Heights.

By i24NEWS

 

The Israeli Defense Forces on Thursday launched a patriot missile at an unmanned aircraft (UAV) from Syria nearing the Israeli border, violating Israeli airspace.

“The IDF will not allow any breach of Israel’s airspace and will act against any attempt of infiltration,” said the IDF in a statement.

The target was successfully intercepted and shot down over the Golan Heights in northern Israel, confirmed the IDF, stating the UAV was under full surveillance by the Israeli Air Force.

“The Patriot Aerial Defense System intercepted a target above the Golan Heights,” the official Israeli army Twitter account said, without elaborating.

Earlier on Thursday, Israel was accused of striking a military compound outside Damascus, suspected of targeting a Hezbollah arms hub often used as a transit point from Tehran.

Israel has not confirmed or denied the reported Damascus attack.

But Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said it was consistent with Israel’s policy to prevent arms transfers through to Hezbollah, while stopping short of confirming his country was behind the incident.

The Kremlin on Thursday called for restraint from Israel regarding the strike.

Missile Launch – Israel Ministry of Defense/Facebook

Israel has carried out multiple air strikes in Syria since that country’s civil war erupted in 2011, most of which it has said targeted arms convoys or warehouses of its Lebanese arch-foe Hezbollah, which is a key supporter of the Syrian regime.

Last month, it said it had conducted several strikes near the Syrian desert city of Palmyra, targeting what it said were “advanced weapons” belonging to Hezbollah.

The strikes prompted Syria to launch ground-to-air missiles, one of which was intercepted over Israeli territory in the most serious flare-up between the two neighbors since the Syrian civil war began six years ago.

 

View original i24NEWS publication at:
http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/143821-170427-missile-launched-intercepting-suspicious-aircraft-nearing-israeli-airspace