Netanyahu defends downing of Syrian fighter jet

The Times of Israel reports that two Patriot missiles fired at Sukhoi aircraft that penetrated two kilometers into Israeli territory, military says; one of the pilots reported killed

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the downing of a Syrian fighter jet that traveled into Israeli airspace on Tuesday afternoon, warning that Israel would continue to take similar action against any incursion into its territory.

“Our air defense systems identified a Syrian air force plane taking off from the Syrian T-4 airbase and penetrating into Israeli airspace,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “This was a blatant violation of the 1974 separation agreement between us and the Syrians. We will not accept any such penetration of, or spillover into, our territory, neither on the ground nor in the air.”

Israel’s ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said Tuesday that Israel had tried to contact the pilot of a Syrian jet before shooting down his plane after it entered Israeli airspace.

Addressing the Security Council’s monthly meeting on the Middle East, Danon said the IDF observed the plane “crossing the border…. we tried to contact a few times, and there was no response.”