Israel Shoots Down Syrian Jet Fighter

Israelis watch smoke rising as a result of Russian air strikes on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights on Monday. Photo: ATEF SAFADI/REX/SHUTTERS/EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

Felicia Schwartz

The Wall Street Journal

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@felschwartz
felicia.schwartz@wsj.com

July 24, 2018 8:06 a.m. ET

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TEL AVIV—Israel shot down a Syrian jet fighter that entered Israeli airspace, its military said Tuesday.

The plane crossed two kilometers (1.2 miles) into Israeli airspace before Israel’s military shot it down, the military said. The military said it has observed increased internal fighting in Syria since early Tuesday, including more activity by the Syrian Air Force.

Israel occupies part of the Golan Heights, disputed territory that borders southern Syria, where heavy clashes are ongoing between the Syrian government and a group affiliated with Islamic State that controls a small pocket there. The regime also has carried out a campaign in the area against the rebels there in recent weeks.

Israel on Monday engaged its David’s Sling missile system for the first time to intercept Syrian missiles that appeared to be headed toward Israeli territory, but eventually landed in Syria.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday met with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss Israel’s demands that Russia use its influence to completely remove Iran’s military presence in Syria.

In May, Israel’s military carried out strikes against Iranian targets in Syria—in what it called its largest-ever operation against Iranian positions in Syria— after it said Iranian forces there fired rockets at its soldiers in the Golan Heights.

Israel has said that it won’t allow Iran to put down deep roots in Syria and the Trump administration is working to rally allies to join the U.S. in confronting Iran and its backers across the Middle East.

Write to Felicia Schwartz at Felicia.Schwartz@wsj.com

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