New Week - New War! USA initiates major strikes inside Syria with some other nations

[David Guyatt]

Strange timing. I wonder...

Israel says it has shot down Syrian jet

Military statement says the plane infiltrated Israeli airspace and was shot down using the Patriot air defence system

• Matthew Weaver
  
• The Guardian, Tuesday 23 September 2014 09.01 BST
  

An IDF spokesman said the aircraft a Russian-made Sukhoi was shot down by a US-manufactured Patriot missile. Photograph: Getty Images

Israel has announced that it shot down a Syrian aircraft that flew into Israeli-controlled airspace.
"Moments ago a Syrian aircraft infiltrated Israeli airspace. The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) intercepted the aircraft in mid-flight, using the Patriot air defence system. The circumstances of the incident are being reviewed," a military statement said.
An IDF spokesman said the aircraft a Russian-made Sukhoi was shot down by a US-manufactured Patriot missile.
Military sources told Reuters the plane had apparently crossed by accident into Israeli-controlled airspace over the Golan Heights where fighting from Syria's civil war has spilled over occasionally - and was not on a mission to attack Israeli targets.
Israel last month said it had shot down a Syrian drone over the Golan Heights. It last downed a manned Syrian jet in 1985 when Israel fighters over Lebanon destroyed two Syrian MiG-23s.