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Israel: IDF Downs Second Syrian Drone This Week

by VOA News

   Israel says it has shot down a drone that was approaching its territory
   from the direction of Syria.

   The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) said Friday it had fired a Patriot
   Missile at the unmanned aircraft. This would be the second time this
   week the Israeli army has downed a Syrian aircraft. On Wednesday, the
   IDF said it shot down a Syrian drone after it flew 10 kilometers into
   Israeli airspace. That prompted Israel to conduct air strikes on three
   Syrian military positions the following day.

   "The IDF is prepared for a wide variety of scenarios and is committed
   to upholding the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement," an IDF
   spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday. "Furthermore, the IDF
   condemns this breach of sovereignty and will continue to act in
   response to any attempts of aggression against Israeli civilians."

   In June, Israel fired a missile at a Syrian drone it said it was
   nearing its airspace. The missile did not hit the drone, but the drone
   withdrew from the area. And in February, Israel said it shot down an
   Iranian drone that had entered its airspace, leading it to bomb Iranian
   military forces positioned in Syria.

   Syria and Israel signed a disengagement pact in 1974. Yet as the Syrian
   government -- backed by Iran and Russia -- has attempted to reclaim its
   territory from rebels along the nation's southern border, tensions have
   become inflamed between the war-torn nation and its southern neighbor.

   Wednesday's incident took place as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
   Netanyahu visited Moscow to discuss Syria and Israel with Russian
   President Vladimir Putin.