On Tuesday morning, Israel fired two Patriot missiles at a Syrian Su-22 fighter-bomber jet along the frontier between southern Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The plane was shot down, and at least one person was killed.
Israel says the Su-22 entered their airspace, and that it amounted to a violation of the 1974 Golan ceasefire. The Syrian government says the plane was in Syrian airspace when targeted by the Israelis. Some Israeli military officials suggest that the plane may have unintentionally crossed the border briefly, though it ultimately crashed inside Syria.
The Su-22 was believed to have been among the Syrian and Russian planes targeting ISIS-held towns along the frontier. Israel has generally not interfered in fighting against these ISIS remnants, but claim they had to shoot down the plane because “that’s what any other country will do in a similar situation.”
Su-22s are an export variety of Soviet variable-sweep wing jets from the 1970s. The planes are mostly used for dropping unguided munitions, and have common in airstrikes against rebel-held territory across Syria.
The pilot was reported killed on impact in the shoot-down. Israel claims only one person was aboard, though other reports suggest there was a second crew member, whose fate is uncertain.
Protecting ISIS?
The Israelis are only protecting their allies, ISIL and al-Qaeda.
Sadly few Americans get that fact.
Yes ISIS , the white helmets and the head choppers have to be protected by somebody now that NATO is backing away from helping them . Not very friendly for a neighbor to do . I thought Israel was neutral in the Syrian civil war . I think Israel and the USA are on the wrong side in Syria’s war .
Yes “that’s what any country would do in a similar situation”. That is if they were illegally occupying someone else’s territory according to international law.
I would have supposed a “regular country” if it was clear that the violation was inadvertent might have handled it differently. Was the plane back into Syria by the time the missile was fired? Did he get shot in the back, had the danger passed?
-Complained through diplomatic channels
-Radio the pilot and complain/warn
Don’t the Greeks and Turks two normal-ish countries in the region violate each others air space semi regularly?
Given that is is a small country and jets are fast so you don’t have a lot of time.