Israel shoots down Syrian drone that invaded its airspace

JTA

JERUSALEM (JTA) — A Patriot missile intercepted a drone that infiltrated Israel’s airspace from Syria.

Code Red alerts sounded in communities in the Golan Heights and the Jordan Valley on Wednesday afternoon.

“The Patriot aerial defense system identified the threat and tracked it until its interception,” the Israeli military said in a statement.

The drone reportedly flew about three miles into Israel and was shot down over the Sea of Galilee.

In June, Israel fired a Patriot missile at an unmanned drone that approached Israeli airspace and then retreated. Two drones from Syria also were shot down last year.

On Monday, Syria accused Israel of airstrikes on an airbase in Homs, which is said to be the site for deployment of Iranian drones. Israel shot down an Iranian drone launched from Syria in February.