Conditions in Syria have rapidly deteriorated in the past 24 hours in several areas. One of the most alarming has been a series of engagements between the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Syrian government, along with Iranian and Hezbollah forces on the ground. When an Iranian drone took off from Tiyas Airbase (T4) in Syria and crossed into Israeli airspace, it was shot down by the IDF. The IDF then launched a retaliatory airstrike against T4, striking several targets before at least one IDF F-16 was struck by a surface-to-air missile. The aircraft was heavily damaged and the crew of two was forced to eject over Israeli territory. One crew member was severely wounded in the process.
In response to the shoot-down of the F-16, the IDF launched further airstrikes against Iranian and Syrian positions in and around Damascus. At some point, another Israeli jet (this time an F-15) was struck and heavily damaged, forcing a crash landing on return to its base. As of this writing, reports are coming in of forces (unknown if they are Syrian or Israeli) moving into the border areas around the occupied Golan Heights. This situation is developing rapidly and we will post updates as they occur.
Wreckage of an IDF F-16
