by Jonah Mandel
© Agence France-Presse
JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — Israel attacked what it said were Iranian positions inside Syria on Saturday in “large-scale” raids after one of its warplanes was targeted by Syrian air defences and crashed.
Following the most serious confrontation between arch foes Israel and Iran since Syria’s civil war began in 2011, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to prevent Tehran from establishing a threatening military presence in the Arab state.
Israel’s raids came after it intercepted what it said was an Iranian drone entering its airspace from Syria, calling it an “attack”.
Washington backed Israel and blamed Iran for the escalation.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for “an immediate and unconditional de-escalation of violence” in Syria, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
It was the first time Israel has publicly acknowledged targeting what it identified as Iranian positions in Syria since the conflict started.
Iran denounced Israeli “lies” and said Syria had the right to self-defense in response to the strikes.
Separately, Iran issued a statement with Syria’s other main allies — Russia and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah — denying Israel’s drone allegations.
Russia’s foreign ministry urged “restraint” by all parties, adding it was “unacceptable to create threats to the lives and security of Russian soldiers” in Syria.
Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus warned that Syria and Iran were “playing with fire”, but stressed that his country was not seeking an escalation.
“This is the most blatant and severe Iranian violation of Israeli sovereignty” in recent years, Conricus told journalists.
’12 targets attacked’
Israel said its reprisals were “large-scale” raids on Syrian air defence systems and Iranian targets.
“Twelve targets, including three aerial defence batteries and four Iranian targets that are part of Iran’s military establishment in Syria were attacked,” a military statement said.
The two crew from the crashed F16 were alive after ejecting, although one was severely wounded, the military said.
They landed inside Israel and were taken to hospital.
Israel said the confrontation began with the drone entering its airspace before being intercepted by a helicopter.
Conricus said it was intercepted well inside Israel north of the city of Beit Shean, near the Jordan border.
He did not say whether the drone was armed, but alleged it “was on a military mission sent by Iranian military forces” from an “Iranian base” in the Palmyra area.
Eight Israeli aircraft then “targeted the Iranian control systems in Syria that sent the UAV” and confirmed hits, Conricus said.
He said the aircraft met “massive Syrian anti-air fire”, and the F16 later came down in northern Israel’s Jezreel valley.
Damascus said its air defences repelled two Israeli raids on its military bases in central Syria, hitting more than one warplane during the first.
‘Israel wants peace’
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said Israel had targeted several bases in the east of the central province of Homs.
It said the bases are used by both Iranians and Russians deployed in support of the regime.
Syrian state media said the later raids targeted positions in the south.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi accused Israel of lying.
“Iran does not have a military presence in Syria, and has only sent military advisors at the request of the Syrian government,” he said.
The statement from Iran, Russia and Hezbollah dismissed Israel’s drone allegations as “lies”.
It said Israel had targeted drones used against “terrorist organisations”, mainly the Islamic State group.
Hezbollah in a separate statement said the F16’s downing marked the start of a “new strategic era”.
Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, called on the Security Council “to condemn this dangerous act and to put an immediate end to Iranian provocations”.
Speaking after meeting defence officials, Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would not allow Iran to establish itself militarily in Syria.
“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,” he said.
Netanyahu said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that they agreed to continue their coordination on Syria.
The Kremlin said Putin had stressed the necessity to “avoid any measure that could lead to a dangerous escalation”.
Still at war
Netanyahu said he also spoke to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who is about to embark on a visit to the region.
The US State Department said it “strongly supports Israel’s sovereign right to defend itself”, calling “for an end to Iranian behaviour that threatens peace and stability”.
Netanyahu has spoken with Putin several times in recent months in a bid to persuade Russia to limit Iran’s presence near Israel.
Israel is technically at war with Syria and occupies a swathe of the strategic Golan Heights that it seized in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed in a move never recognized by the international community.
Israel has sought to avoid direct involvement in the Syria conflict, but acknowledges carrying out dozens of air strikes there to stop what it calls deliveries of advanced weaponry to Hezbollah.
© Agence France-Presse