Israeli fighter jet crashes under Syria fire, military says

The Israeli fighter jet was carrying out strikes on Iranian targets

An Israeli fighter jet has crashed amid Syrian anti-aircraft fire after an offensive against Iranian targets in Syria, the Israeli military says.

The two pilots ejected and parachuted to safety in Israel. They were later taken to hospital.

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Israel said its aircraft, an F-16 jet, was carrying out strikes in response to the launch of a drone into Israeli territory. The drone was intercepted.

Red alert sirens sounded in areas of northern Israel and the Golan Heights.

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Residents reported hearing a number of explosions and heavy aerial activity in the area near Israel’s borders with Jordan and Syria.

“A combat helicopter successfully intercepted an Iranian UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] that was launched from Syria and infiltrated Israel,” the military said in a statement.

The statement added that the drone was identified quickly and was “under surveillance until the interception”.

“In response, the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] targeted Iranian targets in Syria,” the military said.