Downing of Israeli Jet Proves Syrian Army’s Power: Lebanese Analyst
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior Lebanese political analyst praised the Syrian army’s move to shoot down an Israeli F-16 fighter jet and said Damascus proved that it possesses needed equipment to defend its national sovereignty.
Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Ghalib Qandil said the downing of the Israeli jet by the Syrian army’s air defense forces indicates the power and will of the country’s government to defend its territories.
The move also sent a clear message from Damascus that “any aggression against Syria is forbidden, and that Damascus has the means and equipment to defend Syria’s sovereignty”, he noted.
The analyst further dismissed the possibility that Israel would invade Syria and said it would be very difficult for Tel Aviv to wage an “all-out war”.
The Israeli military confirmed that the F-16 had gone down in Palestine’s northern occupied territories, and that the two pilots had been transferred to hospital after ejecting out safely.
Israel said the fighter jet crashed during a mission to strike Iranian drone installations in Syria. It said it sent its jets into Syria after shooting down an Iranian drone over Israeli territory earlier on Saturday.
Iran strongly rejected the claim as “ridiculous”, noting that such allegations do not merit a comment.
The military alliance fighting in support of the Syrian government denied any of its drones had entered Israeli air space. In a statement, it said Israel had targeted an air base in the Homs desert that is being used to fly drones in missions against Daesh (ISIS or ISIL) terrorist group, Reuters reported.
Such “terrorist action” by Israel would be met with a “severe and serious response,” it said.
