Israeli jet downed by Syrian fire – navy

An Israeli F-16 fighter jet has crashed amid Syrian anti-plane fire after an offensive in opposition to Iranian targets in Syria, the Israeli militia says.

The two pilots parachuted to safety forward of the shatter in northern Israel. It is miles believed to be the first time Israel has lost a jet within the Syrian battle.

Israel became conducting strikes after the originate of an Iranian drone into Israel. The drone became intercepted.

Syria accused Israel of « aggression », as Israel then launched more strikes.

Israel Protection Forces (IDF) tweeted: « Moments within the past, IAF plane, focused the Syrian Aerial Protection Machine & Iranian targets in Syria. 12 targets, at the side of Three aerial protection batteries & four Iranian militia targets, were attacked. Anti-plane missiles were fired towards Israel, triggering alarms in northern Israel. »

Israeli strikes in Syria will not be uncommon, the BBC’s Heart East correspondent Tom Bateman says, nevertheless the inability of an Israeli fighter jet marks a extreme escalation.

• Israel ‘strikes Damascus militia advanced’

• Why is there a war in Syria?

How did events unfold on Saturday morning?

In a press release, the Israeli militia said « a strive in opposition to helicopter efficiently intercepted an Iranian UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] that became launched from Syria and infiltrated Israel ».

It said the drone became recognized snappily and became « under surveillance until the interception ».

The drone went down on Israeli territory and became « in our possession », IDF spokesperson Brig Gen Ronen Manelis said.

The militia said that in response the IDF « focused Iranian targets in Syria ». It said the mission deep interior Syrian territory became efficiently done.

After coming under Syrian anti-plane fire, the F-16’s two crew ejected and were later taken to clinical institution. One of them became « severely injured as a results of an emergency evacuation », the IDF said.

It became not trip whether or not the F-16 jet became hit by anti-plane fire or went down for other causes.

It is miles the first time Israel has lost an plane in strive in opposition to since 2006 when an Israeli helicopter became shot down over Lebanon by a Hezbollah rocket, the Jerusalem Post experiences.

All five crew on board – at the side of a female flight mechanic – were killed in that incident.

Crimson alert sirens sounded in areas of northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights attributable to Syrian anti-plane fire.

Residents reported hearing a collection of explosions and heavy aerial whine within the house shut to Israel’s borders with Jordan and Syria.

Syrian utter media quoted a militia source as announcing that the nation’s air defences opened fire in keeping with an Israeli act of « aggression » in opposition to a militia substandard on Saturday, hitting « a couple of airplane ».

What did Israel invent next?

In a while Saturday, the navy said a new wave of assaults became launched in opposition to 12 Syrian and Iranian targets in Syria.

Eight of the Syrian targets belonged to the fourth Syrian division shut to Damascus, IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus said.

The total Israeli plane from this sortie returned safely.

« Syrians are taking half in with fire after they permit Iranians to attack Israel, » the spokesman warned.

He added that Israel became energetic to right a heavy impress in response nevertheless « we’re not having a see to escalate the verbalize ».

What’s the Iranian presence in Syria?

Iran – Israel’s arch-enemy – is a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose troops were combating riot groups since 2011.

Tehran has sent militia advisers, volunteer militias and, reportedly, loads of of opponents from its Quds Pressure, the in a single other nation arm of the Iranian Innovative Guards Corps (IRGC).

It is miles additionally believed to dangle supplied 1000’s of tonnes of weaponry and munitions to wait on President Assad’s forces and the skilled-Iranian Lebanese Hezbollah stream, which is combating on Syria’s aspect.

Tehran has faced accusations that it is far searching for to avoid losing not only appropriate an arc of impact nevertheless a logistical land supply line from Iran by intention of to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

What’s the strategic context?

Prognosis by BBC’s diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus

For years Israel has been hanging at weapons stores and other products and providers in Syria with a single scheme – to disrupt and as far as that that that you simply might well also accept as true with to forestall evolved Iranian missiles being dropped at Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Syria has usually been the conduit for these shipments. However the altering balance of vitality there, with the Assad regime’s survival bolstered by Iranian wait on, has launched a sturdy new factor – a pronounce Iranian position within the crisis.

A more confident Iran is alleged by Israel to be environment up bases in Syria (whether or not for its possess or its proxy Shia militia forces is unclear).

But it is far additionally alleged to be developing missile factories, both there and in Lebanon, to develop the supply traces to Hezbollah less inclined.

Israel’s campaign to disrupt missile affords is becoming ever more advanced.

And Iran risks becoming a pronounce actor in this battle, ever closer to Israel’s possess borders.