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February 2018 Israel–Syria incident

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February 2018 Israel–Syria incident
Part of the Israeli-Syrian border incidents during the Syrian Civil War and the Iran–Israel proxy conflict
File:Crash f-16 in harduf2.jpgFile:Crash f-16 in harduf1.jpg
The F-16 burns (above) and its remains (below) near Harduf.
Date10 February 2018
Location
Syria, Israel
Result
  • Per IAF, Iranian drone that entered Israeli airspace shot down
  • Israel responds by striking the Tiyas Military Airbase in Syria
  • Downing of Israeli F-16 jet by the Syrian Air Defense
  • Israeli fighter jets attack additional sites, bringing the total to 12 being hit[2]
Belligerents
 Israel  Syria
 Iran[1]
Units involved
 Israeli Air Force  Syrian Air Force
Syrian Air Defense Force
Strength
1 AH-64 helicopter
8 F-16 jets		 1 Saegheh (UAV)
Unknown number of air defense systems and SAM batteries including S-200, SA-17, SA-6 and SA-3[3]
Casualties and losses
2 pilots wounded
F-16 shot down		 6–10 soldiers/militiamen killed,[4][5]
1 drone shot down
12 sites hit (8 Syrian & 4 Iranian; per Israel)[6]

On 10 February 2018, an Iranian drone crossed Israeli borders and was shot down by Israeli forces. An Israeli F-16 also attacked the drone command center from inside of Israel and was shot down by the Syrian Air Defense Force. In retaliation, the IAF attacked several Syrian targets inside Syria.[7][8][9][10] Two hours after the downing of the jet, Israel began attacking additional targets inside Syria, including air defense sites[11][12] and Iranian targets near Damascus.[13] Israel claims it destroyed the Syrian military’s main command and control bunker.[14]

Israel claimed that it was "the biggest and most significant attack the air force has conducted against Syrian air defenses since the 1982 Lebanon War".Hezbollah said that the downing of the F-16 is the begining of "a new strategic phase"[15], as it was the first occasion on which Israel lost a jet to an enemy combatant, since 1982.[16]

Timeline

At 4:30 am on 10 February 2018, an Israeli AH-64 Apache helicopter shot down an Iranian produced copy of the RQ-170 drone (Saegheh (UAV)) near the northern town of Beit Shean.[17][18] The Iranian drone was sighted taking off from a base in Syria, flew along the Jordanian border, and was intercepted 90 seconds after crossing the Israeli border.[19][20][21][22] Israeli journalist Ron Ben-Yishai claimed the Iranian drone was sent to test if the Israeli air defense systems could detect a stealth drone. A test which failed.[23]

In response to the sighting of the drone crossing the Israeli border, 8 F-16s of the Israeli air force, struck Tiyas Military Airbase from which the Israeli military said the drone was launched from.[19] This base was attaked by the IAF in the past (March 2017), despite warnings from Russia due to its proximity to Russian military personnal.[23] The attack prompted a response from the Syrian Air Defense system, which after firing on the Israeli jets, shot down an Israeli F-16 fighter jet over northern Israel,[24] as it flying in high altitude over Israel to verify that missiles fired at the Iranian target hit it.[19][25] The jet came down near kibbutz Harduf, east of Haifa, and the two pilots operating the plane ejected and were injured, one of them critically.[19]

This is the first loss of an Israeli Air Force warplane to enemy fire in 36 years.[24]

The F-16 was flying at high altitude to verify the results of the strike on Syrian targets, which made it easy to track by Syrian air defenses, which fired over 20 surface to air missiles at it.[26]

Aftermath

Sirens were heard in the early morning in northern Israel and flights at Tel Aviv’s international airport were briefly halted. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held security consultations following the incident, and Israel conducted several attacks against the Syrian Aerial Defense System and targets which Israel alleges are Iranian targets in Syria in response to the downing of the F-16.[27] The Wall Street Journal cited Syrian media reporting that 25 people were killed by the Israel airstrikes.[28]

Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu said "They dispatched an Iranian drone from Syrian territory into Israel... Israel holds Iran and its Syrian hosts responsible."[29]

An Israeli army assessment claimed that the twelve retaliatory air strikes destroyed nearly half of Syria's aerial defense systems,[30] which include over 900 launchers. However, a day earlier, the Israeli military put the number of destroyed aerial defense batteries at three.[31]

Reactions

  • Israel Israel: "Israel wants peace but we will continue to defend ourselves with determination against any attack on us and against any attempt by Iran to entrench itself militarily in Syria or anywhere else." [32]
  • Syria Syria: The Ministry of Defense stated "The Israeli enemy has resumed its aggression against some military positions in the southern region. Our air defenses have been attacked and the aggression has been thwarted".[33]
  • Iran Iran: "Reports of downing an Iranian drone flying over Israel and also Iran's involvement in attacking an Israeli jet are so ridiculous... Iran only provides military advice to Syria." [34]
  • File:Flag of Hezbollah.svg Hezbollah: Hezbollah hailed Syria’s response to Israel’s attack on Iranian and Syrian bases in Syria, saying it signals “a new strategic phase” that puts an end to violation of Syrian territories.[15]
  • Lebanon Lebanon: The Lebanese Foreign Ministry condemned “the raids on Syria” and stressed the right of “legitimate self-defense against any Israeli aggression.” The statement added that “this aggressive policy practiced by Israel threatens stability in the region,” calling on “the countries concerned to rein in Israel to stop its aggression.”[35]
  • Russia Russia: The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that "of particular concern is the danger of escalation of tension within and around de-escalation zones in Syria, the creation of which has become an important factor in reducing violence on Syrian soil. We urge all parties involved to exercise restraint and to avoid any actions that could lead to an even greater complication of the situation. We consider it necessary to unconditionally respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and other countries of the region. It is absolutely unacceptable to create threats to the lives and security of Russian servicemen who are in Syria at the invitation of its legitimate government to assist in the fight against terrorists,"[15]
  • United States United States: "The Department of Defense did not participate in this military operation... Israel is our closest security partner in the region and we fully support Israel’s inherent right to defend itself against threats to its territory and its people."[36]
  •  United Kingdom: Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson issued a response, expressing concern at the developments, but supporting Israel's right to defend itself. We support Israel’s right to defend itself against any incursions into its territory. "We are concerned at the Iranian actions, which detract from efforts to get a genuine peace process underway. We encourage Russia to use its influence to press the regime and its backers to avoid provocative actions and to support de-escalation in pursuit of a broader political settlement" said Johnson.[37]
  • United Nations United Nations: Secretary-General António Guterres said he was following closely the alarming military escalation throughout Syria and the dangerous spillover across its borders and called for an immediate and unconditional de-escalation of violence in Syria.[38]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Iranian drone we shot down was based on captured US drone". 12 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Israel warns deadly airstrikes in Syria 'are a message for Iran'". 11 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  3. ^ https://www.timesofisrael.com/pilot-was-right-to-eject-from-damaged-fighter-jet-air-force-chief-says/
  4. ^ "The Latest: Netanyahu: Strikes severe blows to Syria, Iran". 11 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  5. ^ What led to the intense confrontation between Syria and Israel this past weekend?
  6. ^ Israel says its airstrikes took out half of Syria's air defenses, Los Angeles Times, Feb 11, 2018. Accessed Feb 12, 2018.
  7. ^ "Israel strikes Iranian targets in Syria, IAF F-16 shot down". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Israeli F-16 fighter jet shot down amid Syrian anti-air fire, pilots safe – IDF". RT International. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Israeli jet downed by Syrian fire – army". BBC News. 10 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  10. ^ Kubovich, Yaniv; Shpigel, Noa; Khoury, Jack (10 February 2018). "Israel Downs Iranian Drone, Strikes Syria; Israeli F-16 Shot Down, Pilots Safe". Haaretz. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Syrian air defenses respond to new Israeli raids near Damascus – state TV". RT International. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  12. ^ Conricus, Jonathan. "Here's a quick summary of today's events, from the #Iranian UAV to our large-scale strike against the #Syrian air-defense. The IDF will stand guard against any further attacks.pic.twitter.com/ntoHRiv1Z6".
  13. ^ "Israel launches 'large-scale' attack in Syria after fighter jet crashes". 10 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Minister: Iran will need 'time to digest' how Israel hit covert military sites".
  15. ^ a b c "The Latest: Hezbollah says Syria reply to Israel 'new phase'". The Washington Post.
  16. ^ Kubovich, Yaniv (11 February 2018). "Israel Army: Drone Was Allowed to Cross Into Israel to Prove Iranian Aggression" – via Haaretz.
  17. ^ The drone was not destroyed so we could study it, Channel 2 news, 11 Feb 2018
  18. ^ Israel: Iranian drone we shot down was based on captured US drone, CNN, 12 Feb 2018
  19. ^ a b c d "Israel launches heavy Syria strikes after F-16 crashes". Reuters.
  20. ^ Israel Hits Back at Iran and Syria as Border Region Boils, Bloomberg, 10 Feburary 2018
  21. ^ IDF reveals UAV launched from Iran-operated Syrian base, YNET, 10 Feb 2018
  22. ^ FROM THE EUPHRATES TO BEIT SHE’AN: THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC’S DANGEROUS GAME, JPost, 12 Feb 2018
  23. ^ a b Ron Ben-Yishai "Analysis: In order to prevent escalation, Israel should lower its profile". (originally published on Ynet). i24 News. 11 February 2018.
  24. ^ a b "Netanyahu says Israel undeterred after Syria shoots down F-16". 11 February 2018 – via Reuters.
  25. ^ Crash into the danger zone, Times of Israel, 12 Feb 2018
  26. ^ http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-israel-iran-20180211-story.html
  27. ^ "Israel launches heavy Syria strikes after F-16 crashes". The New York Times.
  28. ^ Jones, Rory (11 February 2018). "Tension Rises Between Israel and Iran After Syria Clash" – via www.wsj.com.
  29. ^ "Israel warns Iran after strikes in Syria". 11 February 2018 – via www.bbc.com.
  30. ^ "Israel says its airstrikes took out half of Syria's air defenses". Los Angeles Times. 12 February 2018.
  31. ^ Israeli PM: Airstrikes dealt 'severe blows' to Iran, Syria
  32. ^ "Netanyahu: Israel will not allow Iranian entrenchment in Syria". The Times of Israel.
  33. ^ السورية, وزارة الدفاع في الجمهورية العربية. "وسائط دفاعنا الجوي تتصدى لعدوان إسرائيلي جديد". وزارة الدفاع في الجمهورية العربية السورية. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  34. ^ "Hezbollah: Downing of Israeli F-16 Marks 'Start of New Strategic Phase'". Haaretz.
  35. ^ "Lebanon asks UN Security Council to pressure Israel after 'airspace violation'". Arab News. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  36. ^ "U.S. supports Israel's right to defend itself: Pentagon". Reuters. 10 February 2018.
  37. ^ http://m.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/EU-warns-of-spiraling-violence-after-Israel-Syria-border-incident-542403
  38. ^ "Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the Syrian Arab Republic | United Nations Secretary-General". www.un.org. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
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