Overnight, our time, Iranian forces launched a UAV, a drone, into Israel. The drone was intercepted and shot down.

Original footage showing #Iranian UAV infiltrating and then shot down over Israel, and #IDF strike on Iranian command vehicle in #Syria pic.twitter.com/Sz6poAOdjc

— Jonathan Conricus (@LTCJonathan) February 10, 2018

Israel has been warning Iran for some time that placing its forces in close proximity to the Israel-Lebanon frontier was a lot less than helpful. And it is not the first time Israel has shot down an Iranian drone in its airspace. In April, an Israeli Patriot engaged an Iranian drone over the Golan Heights.

Israel launched attacks on targets in Syria.

The IDF is striking numerous (12) Syrian and Iranian military targets in Syria, in response to Iranian aggression. More to follow

— Jonathan Conricus (@LTCJonathan) February 10, 2018

Accurate hits of Iranian UAV control facility confirmed.

— Jonathan Conricus (@LTCJonathan) February 10, 2018

The Syrians met the attack with massive anti-aircraft fire. One Israeli F-16 was hit but was able to make its way back to Israel before crashing.

Following the Syrian counter measures fired at the Israel Air Force, an F16 was hit, the pilot and navigator ejected to safety in Israel the aircraft crashed in the north of the country.

— LTC (R) Peter Lerner (@LTCPeterLerner) February 10, 2018

BREAKING: One of the Israeli pilots from the downed F-16 is in serious condition. Syria TV reports explosions in the Damascus area while rockets sound in Israel's north. Pics: Rami Shlush. ALL UPDATES HEREhttps://t.co/GgPyDlaPl0 pic.twitter.com/c1XeYFeZk1

— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) February 10, 2018

https://twitter.com/yankifarber/status/962372980062945280

Along with other things, the Israelis’s targeted Syrian air defense.

The takeaways from this is that the war between Israel and Iran and its proxies is going to heat up. Without Obama to run interference for Tehran, Israel will probably make Iran’s occupation of Lebanon much more interesting and costly. Going after anti-aircraft sites in a broad attack rather than playing whack-a-mole with the drone command and control facility indicates this will be a regular happening and breaking the air defense screen opens up much more real estate to airstrikes.

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Last night’s clash in the Golan was significant on a number of levels. First, this appears to be the first incursion by Iran, via drone, of Israeli airspace. A major escalation.

— Jonathan Schanzer (@JSchanzer) February 10, 2018

#Iran is the aggressor here. They sent a #UAV on a military mission, violating #Israeli sovereignty. The #IDF is ready for all scenarios, urging Iran and Syria to cease aggression. pic.twitter.com/9E8eIz2TGi

— Jonathan Conricus (@LTCJonathan) February 10, 2018