Israeli Patriot Missile Downs Syrian Jet in Golan Heights
19 October 2018 19:10 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Israel has shot down a Syrian jet fighter at Golan Heights on Tuesday, September 23, 2014. "We were forced to shoot it down because the aircraft had strayed into Israeli airspace without authorization," said a statement released by Israel's Defence Force (IDF).
The incident occurred over the hotly disputed territory that is Golan Heights, which has witnessed an escalation of violence since the Syrian civil war began in 2011.
"A jet was successfully shot down after it went into Israeli airspace. Meanwhile, another jet escaped after it was intercepted by our aerial defence system along the Syrian border," said the statement without further elaboration.
Israel's Army Radio service Galei Tzahal reported that an MIG-21 jet was hit by a Patriot surface-to-air missile and crashed into the Syrian-held disputed territory.
The incident came three weeks after Israel successfully shot down a Syrian drone over Golan Heights during an intense outbreak of fighting in Syrian territory.
AL ARABIYA | CHOIRUL