Aircraft downed by IDF Sunday likely Iranian drone, army finds

The Israel Defense Forces has determined that a drone it shot down after it crossed into Israeli airspace from Syria was likely of Iranian origin, a military source says.

Debris from the downed aircraft has been collected and is continuing to be examined, the source says.

The IDF initially declined to describe the aircraft after it was intercepted Sunday, but now says it was an unmanned aerial vehicle. It was downed using “electronic warfare,” the source says.

Around an hour after the incursion, Syrian media reported explosions at an airport near the capital Damascus, but did not blame Israel. Syrian state media generally is quick to attribute airstrikes in the country to Israel and has repeatedly done so in recent weeks.

Tensions in northern Israel have escalated after a series of airstrikes in Syria, a terror attack that is believed to have been carried out by an intruder from Lebanon, and threats by Israeli officials and Iran.