IDF Shoots Down Syrian Fighter Jet over Golan Heights

Lea Speyer : Sep 23, 2014
Breaking Israel News

“Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.” (Psalm 144:1)

A Syrian Su-24 fighter plane (pictured) was shot down by the IAF after it crossed into Israeli airspace. (Photo via Breaking Israel News)

The IDF shot down a Syrian fighter plane over the Golan Heights with a patriot missile, the army confirmed on Tuesday.

"A jet was successfully intercepted by our aerial defense system along the Syrian border," the IDF said in a statement.

Tuesday morning, IDF officials were warned of an aircraft that infiltrated Israeli airspace. The aircraft was shot down and did not fall into Israeli territory, the IDF said.

"Moments ago a Syrian aircraft infiltrated Israeli airspace. The IDF intercepted the aircraft mid-flight, using the Patriot air defense system. The circumstances of the incident are being reviewed," the army said.

Ha’aretz originally reported that the plane was a MiG-21 but the IDF later confirmed it was a Sukhoi-24 "fighter plane." The Su-24, a Cold War-era Soviet fighter jet, is one of the main jets belonging to the Syrian Air Force. Syrian media and government officials confirmed that the plane was downed near Quneitra, the volatile border region between Israel and Syria.

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