Israel Strikes Iran in Syria and Loses a Jet
- 6 years ago
Israel Strikes Iran in Syria and Loses a Jet
Russia, along with Iran, has been helping prop up the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, and the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling on “all sides involved to show restraint and avoid all acts
that could lead to complicating the situation further.”
The ministry added: “It is absolutely unacceptable to create threats to the lives and security of Russian soldiers
that are in the Syrian Arab Republic on the invitation of the legal government to assist in the fight against terrorism.”
After a meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin in Moscow two weeks ago, Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement
that Israel viewed with “utmost gravity” Iran’s efforts to establish a military presence in Syria, and said he had made clear to Mr. Putin that Israel would “act according to need.”
Mr. Netanyahu said he spoke with Mr. Putin on Saturday and agreed that security coordination between the two countries would continue.
The Israeli military said it hit eight Syrian targets, including three aerial defense batteries, and four Iranian positions
that it described as “part of Iran’s military entrenchment in Syria.”
The events, including Israel’s direct engagement with Iranian forces, threatened to intensify the crisis in Syria
and showed the extent to which the country has become a battlefield between Israel and Iran, bitter foes in the region.
But this was the first Israeli strike on a site where Iranian forces were present, analysts said,
and Israeli military officials said this was the first time an Iranian drone had penetrated Israeli airspace during the Syrian war.
Russia, along with Iran, has been helping prop up the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, and the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling on “all sides involved to show restraint and avoid all acts
that could lead to complicating the situation further.”
The ministry added: “It is absolutely unacceptable to create threats to the lives and security of Russian soldiers
that are in the Syrian Arab Republic on the invitation of the legal government to assist in the fight against terrorism.”
After a meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin in Moscow two weeks ago, Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement
that Israel viewed with “utmost gravity” Iran’s efforts to establish a military presence in Syria, and said he had made clear to Mr. Putin that Israel would “act according to need.”
Mr. Netanyahu said he spoke with Mr. Putin on Saturday and agreed that security coordination between the two countries would continue.
The Israeli military said it hit eight Syrian targets, including three aerial defense batteries, and four Iranian positions
that it described as “part of Iran’s military entrenchment in Syria.”
The events, including Israel’s direct engagement with Iranian forces, threatened to intensify the crisis in Syria
and showed the extent to which the country has become a battlefield between Israel and Iran, bitter foes in the region.
But this was the first Israeli strike on a site where Iranian forces were present, analysts said,
and Israeli military officials said this was the first time an Iranian drone had penetrated Israeli airspace during the Syrian war.