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Israeli military targets Syrian fighter jet over occupied Golan Heights

Tuesday, 24 July 2018 12:31 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 24 July 2018 2:51 PM ]

This file picture shows a Syrian Air Force Sukhoi Su-22 fighter jet in flight.

Israeli military forces have targeted a Syrian Air Force fighter jet over the Golan Heights as it was flying in Syria’s airspace and conducting a series of airstrikes against the positions of foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants in the occupied territories.

“The Israeli enemy confirms its support for the armed terrorist groups and targets one of our warplanes, which was striking their groups in the area of Saida on the edge of the Yarmouk Valley in Syrian airspace,” Syria’s official news agency SANA quoted an unnamed Syrian military source as saying on Tuesday.

The Israeli military, however, claimed in a statement that it had launched two surface-to-air Patriot missiles at the Syrian Sukhoi fighter jet after it had “infiltrated into Israeli airspace.”

The statement added that the missiles had shot down the Syrian warplane.

“Since morning hours, there has been an increase in the internal fighting in Syria, including an increase in the activity of the Syrian Air Force,” the Israeli army further asserted.

Israel has been on high alert in recent days as Syrian government forces advance against foreign-backed terrorists near the Golan Heights.

Tel Aviv has frequently attacked military targets inside Syria in an attempt to prop up terrorist groups that have been suffering defeats at the hands of Syrian government forces.

On July 16, Syrian army took control of a strategic hill overlooking the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Syrian government soldiers pose for a photograph in the city of Quneitra after taking it back from foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants on July 19, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Syria’s state television said the army had liberated al-Harah hill in the second day of a major offensive to seize the remaining militant-held parts of southwestern provinces.

SANA, citing a military source, said the army had captured a string of villages, including al-Tiha and Zimrin.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) also confirmed that Damascus government units had made a "quick advance" against militants in the western part of Dara’a.

"Syrian … forces captured the town of al-Harah, as well as Samlin, al-Tiha and Zimrin," media outlets quoted observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman as saying.

He said the government troops had ousted militants from al-Tiha in a military advance, while armed groups in al-Harah had agreed to a surrender deal.

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