Drone from Syria approaches Israel, intercepted by missile

An Israeli Patriot missile intercepted a drone from Syria that approached the Jewish state's disputed border with Syria near the Golan Heights on Saturday.

The aerial vehicle was demolished before it entered the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, a military spokesperson told Xinhua news agency.

"The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) intercepted a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) that attempted to infiltrate Israeli airspace in the Golan Heights using a Patriot missile," he said in a statement.

The missile was launched from a Patriot battery located in the city of Safed in the Upper Galilee.

Residents of the area said they heard echoes of strong explosions and a busy aerial activity, local media reported.

In September, Israel intercepted a UAV after it infiltrated into the demilitarised zone on the Syrian-Israeli border in the Golan Heights.

According to Israel, the aerial vehicle was manufactured by Iran and operated by its ally, Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia militia.

--IANS

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