The Israeli occupation army on Tuesday shot down a Syrian warplane after it allegedly penetrated its airspace in the occupied Golan Heights.
The Israeli army said in a statement that two surface-to-air Patriot missiles were launched at a Syrian Sukhoi jet fighter claiming it breached its airspace by about two kilometers (1.25 miles).
“It was shot down and it crashed” an Israeli military spokesman told reporters adding that the aircraft likely fell into the Syrian territory.
“We do not have any information so far about the pilots. I do not know of any reports of parachutes being spotted and we do not know if any pilots have been retrieved” he said.
Sirens were heard across the occupied Golan Heights near the Syrian frontier and Israeli media said residents saw missiles’ contrails and heard sounds of explosions.
It is the first time Israel has shot down a Syrian fighter jet since 2014 although this year it has hit what it says are Syrian drones breaching its airspace.
For its part the Syrian state television said on Tuesday the downed aircraft had not left the Syrian skies. It said the jet had been attacking militants and condemned Israel for aiding people it described as terrorists and enemies.
Since mid-June Syrian government forces backed by Russia have been conducting a deadly bombing campaign close to the Golan Heights.
