{"id":400236,"date":"2018-02-10T09:45:01","date_gmt":"2018-02-10T09:45:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=400236"},"modified":"2018-02-10T09:45:01","modified_gmt":"2018-02-10T09:45:01","slug":"israel-jet-crashes-amid-syrian-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2018\/02\/israel-jet-crashes-amid-syrian-fire\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel jet crashes amid Syrian fire"},"content":{"rendered":"
An Israeli F-16 fighter jet has crashed amid Syrian anti-aircraft fire after an offensive against Iranian targets in Syria, the Israeli\u00a0military says.<\/p>\n
The two pilots parachuted to safety before the crash in northern Israel. It is believed to be the first time Israel has lost a jet in the Syrian conflict.<\/p>\n
Israel was carrying out strikes after the launch of an Iranian drone into Israel. The drone was intercepted.<\/p>\n
Syria accused Israel of “aggression”, as Israel then launched more strikes.<\/p>\n
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tweeted:\u00a0“Moments ago, IAF aircraft, targeted the Syrian Aerial Defense System & Iranian targets in Syria. 12 targets, including 3 aerial defense batteries & 4 Iranian military targets, were attacked. Anti-aircraft missiles were fired towards Israel, triggering alarms in northern Israel.”<\/p>\n
Israeli strikes in Syria are not unusual, the BBC’s Middle East correspondent Tom Bateman says, but the loss of an Israeli fighter jet marks a serious escalation.<\/p>\n
How did events unfold on Saturday morning?<\/strong><\/p>\n In a statement, the Israeli military said “a combat helicopter successfully intercepted an Iranian UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] that was launched from Syria and infiltrated Israel”.<\/p>\n It said the drone was identified quickly and was “under surveillance until the interception”.<\/p>\n