The Israeli military says it has shot down a Syrian jet over Israeli-controlled airspace.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said they intercepted the aircraft in mid-flight over the Quneitra area of the Golan Heights.
Moment ago, a Syrian aircraft infiltrated Israeli airspace. IDF's Patriot air defense system intercepted the aircraft.
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) September 23, 2014
An Israeli defence source identified the jet as a Russian-built Sukhoi Su-24 fighter plane. Previously it was reported to have been a MiG-21 aircraft.
It flew 800 metres into Israeli airspace and tried to return to Syria after the Patriot missile was fired, he said.
The crew managed to abandon the plane in time and landed in Syrian territory, he added.
The Golan area, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war, has seen clashes between the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and Syrian President Bashar al Assad's forces in recent weeks.
Syrian state TV confirmed Israel had shot down one of its planes, and described it as an act of aggression.
It quoted a military source saying the attack came "in the framework of (Israel's) support for the terrorist (Islamic State) and the Nusra Front".
Israel's Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said the aircraft had crossed into Israel in a "threatening way" and vowed to retaliate to any similar incidents in the future.
Originally posted at 9:10am
