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Updated 1.15pm
ISRAEL STRUCK A dozen Syrian and Iranian targets inside Syria today in “large-scale” raids after an Israeli fighter jet crashed under fire from Syrian air defences in a severe increase in tensions, the military said.
The confrontation was the most serious between arch foes Israel and Iran since the start of the civil war in Syria in 2011.
Israel’s raids came after it intercepted what it said was an Iranian drone entering its airspace from Syria, which it labelled an “attack”.
It marked the first time Israel publicly acknowledged attacking what it identified as Iranian targets in Syria since the war began.
In response, Iran denounced Israeli “lies” and said Syria had the right to self-defence in response to Israeli strikes.
Separately, Iran issued a joint statement alongside the other main allies of the Syrian regime – Russia and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah – denying the allegations regarding the drone.
The Russian foreign ministry called for “restraint” from all parties.
Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus warned that Syria and Iran were “playing with fire,” but stressed his country was not seeking an escalation.
“This is the most blatant and severe Iranian violation of Israeli sovereignty in the last years,” Conricus told journalists in a phone conference.
Israel said its reprisals after the exchange were “large-scale” raids that attacked Syrian air defence systems and Iranian targets.
“Twelve targets, including three aerial defence batteries and four Iranian targets that are part of Iran’s military establishment in Syria were attacked,” a military statement said.
Israel has repeatedly warned in recent weeks against the presence of Iranian forces in neighbouring Syria.
‘Massive’ anti-aircraft fire
The Israeli pilots of the crashed F16 were alive, although one was severely wounded, the military said.
According to the Israeli military, the confrontation began with the drone entering its airspace before being intercepted by a combat helicopter.
Conricus said it was intercepted well inside Israeli territory over the city of Beit Shean, near the Jordanian border.
He did not say whether the drone was armed or for reconnaissance, but alleged it “was on a military mission sent by Iranian military forces” from an “Iranian base” in the Palmyra area.
Eight Israeli aircraft then “targeted the Iranian control systems in Syria that sent the UAV” and confirmed hits, according to Conricus.
The aircraft met “massive Syrian anti-air fire,” Conricus said, and the F16 crashed afterwards in the Jezreel valley in northern Israel.
It was not clear if the jet crashed as a direct result of the Syrian fire.
According to the military, the pilots ejected, landed in Israeli territory and were taken to hospital.
Syria said its air defences repelled two Israeli raids on its military bases in the centre of the country, hitting more than one warplane during the first.
‘Nobody tries us’
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor of the seven-year civil war, said the earlier Israeli raids had targeted several military bases in the east of the central province of Homs.
It said the bases are used by both Iranian and Russian military personnel deployed in support of the regime.
Syrian state media said the later raids targeted military positions in the south of the country.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said Tehran “believes Syria has the right to legitimate self-defence. To cover their crimes in the region, Israeli officials are resorting to lies against other countries”.
He added that “Iran does not have a military presence in Syria, and has only sent military advisers at the request of the Syrian government”.
Iran, Russia and Hezbollah – the Syrian regime’s main allies – issued a joint statement calling Israel’s drone allegations “lies”.
It said the Israeli strikes had targeted drones used against “terrorist organisations, primarily Daesh”, using an alternative name for the Islamic State group.
The statement vowed a “relentless response” to “all further aggression”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has held a series of meetings in recent months with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Iran’s influence in Syria and Lebanon.
Netanyahu has been seeking to persuade Russia to limit Iran’s presence near Israeli territory and to stop it from entrenching itself militarily in Syria.
In a meeting in Moscow last month, Netanyahu reiterated concerns of what he described as attempts by Iran to establish a military presence in Syria and produce weapons against Israel there.
“We won’t accept either of those, and will act according to our needs,” Netanyahu said then.
Israel remains technically at war with Syria and occupies a swathe of the strategic Golan Heights that it seized in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed in a move never recognised by the international community.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu took members of his security cabinet for a tour of the Israeli-occupied side, where they were briefed by the military.
Israel has sought to avoid direct involvement in the Syrian war, but acknowledges carrying out dozens of air strikes there to stop what it calls advanced arms deliveries to Hezbollah.
Several analysts said they did not expect a further escalation for now.
Ofer Zalzberg of the International Crisis Group said Russia should mediate since “it is the only stakeholder which has strong relations with all sides today.”
But he said “this incident signals a new phase in a way of the war in Syria”.
The Syrian regime is acting more boldly toward Israeli strikes because it feels it has gained the upper hand in the civil war, he said.
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Enda vs bertie.
Syphilis vs smallpox.
@Trevor Hayden:
That gives Syphilis vs smallpox. a bad name:
@Trevor Hayden: No fan of Enda but I’ve no recollection of him up in front of a tribunal.
@Paul Corcoran: Not yet…
@Paul Corcoran: That’s because he, along with all the rest of them, is protected by a nice big fat layer of corruption. FFS it is beyond pathetic that these two names are being trotted out again. Two of those hated men ever in the country and the article refers to them as ‘big guns’. It’s feckin’ Stockholm Syndrome
@Joe Phillips: well said.
@Trevor Hayden: it would be like
Gerry Adams v Arlene Foster
Horrible people
@Joe Phillips: The level of corruption in Ireland is quite low. We rank in the top 20 of least corrupt nations, just behind the US and ahead of Japan, France and Spain (as examples).
You may hate Kenny but to suggest he is one of the most hated men in Ireland is nonsense.
@Kevin O’Donnell: it’s absolutely not nonsense… you may quote all the figures you like to quantify our corruption but if you think that man isn’t actively hated by a lot of people, then you’re not paying attention. Personally, the smarmy face on him in the picture above makes me want to track him down right now and slap it til it’s black and blue. I bet I’m not alone.
@Joe Phillips: Prove your corruption allegations.
Or are you just another conspiracy nut.
@Trevor Hayden: history will be kind to Ends, not so much to Bertie
@James Gorman #FBPE: I can’t see how?
He will end hospital waiting lists?
He will put a stop to wasting taxpayers money/Irish water.
People should not be forced to pay a tax on their home/Property tax.
A proven liar just like Bertie.
@Paul Corcoran: millionaire from politics what’s the difference
@Trevor Hayden: Vile comment.
@Paul Corcoran: Think he has enough pensions. He took a nose dive to when the s**t the fan. I wonder why.
The same chancers being put forward again and again. They spend their lives living off the state. There is no hope of this country ever achieving its potential with this kind of backward thinking by our political system.
@David Corrigan: it’s just the realisation that it’s possible that an outsider, an ordinary citizen, might get their paws on the loot.
@David Corrigan:
Absolutely. It’s the fattest salary in the land.
Once a tax payer teat suckler, always a tax payer teat suckler. They can never be unweaned and the unaccountable blank expenses Cheque that comes with the presidential office is the ultimate honey pot.
@David Corrigan: here come the tears. Shock horror a politician might apply for a job in politics.
Why are you whining? Who do you want to be the next president? Gerry Adams? Mick Wallace? Ruth Coppinger? Maybe give the job to a homeless person is that what you want? Or give it to a traveller perhaps?
@DM: You seem to be a very simple minded soul in all fairness. Are you happy with two non-performers being touted as “big guns” in Irish politics when both of them have proven themselves to be failures?
@Mick Barnier: highly doubtful that ‘an ordinary citizen’ could ever get chance to run for president here – not with needing 250k+ just to put your name forwards – then of course there is the ‘selection’ process of getting nominations from 6 local authorities –lets face it us plebs only get to vote for whoever fg/ff want us to vote for — just another racket to make an already very wealthy person even wealthier at the tax payers expense with a six figure salary and a massive pension fund (to add to their other considerable pension funds of course ) ! scrap the bloody post and save the money !
@David Corrigan: Ah so you’ve chosen to ignore the questions asked and instead reverted to a put down, often the case when one has zero argument to make. Not too dissimilar to Ahern or Kenny yourself.
I don’t care if they are labeled big guns or lightweights. If they run for president so what? You don’t have to vote for them, and whining about them online certainly doesn’t change anything. Your comments lack substance.
So, have another go. Who would you rather ran for president? I heard Peppa Pig is looking for work, or how about one or the Healy Rae’s? Better still, how about Michael Lowry?!!
Let’s hear your suggestions then…..
@DM: You should try and calm down a bit there. I have nobody in mind to be president but I do hope that when we do need to elect a president that we exclude known con artists.
Am I expecting too much do you think? Are you happy to keep seeing the same failures putting themselves forward for election? No wonder the country is going backwards when we have people who can’t see right from wrong being allowed to vote.
@David Corrigan: We should not call people living off State funds chancers , one Casey is enough.
@DM: There are very respectable homeless people. Also what are you trying to say about travellers. In essence if you wear a suit your ok???
Enda vs Bertie? One as bad as the other. A fiction story-maker versus a financial questionable chancer.
No thanks.
Neither Bertie or Ends would get my vote. Two con artists
@P Quinn: then vote for another candidate, seems simple really
Oh dear god please no :(
Can’t see either party running an ex leader or major party player anymore, to much baggage from the unpopular decisions made over the last decade
@Patrick Nolan: last decade? Bertie’s run of corruption stretches back as far as the 80s.
Zig or zag would be better candidates than those 2
Bertie?
He might want it but would we want him?
@Michael Kavanagh: NO.
@Clear And Graphic: Never, Bertie might beat Gavin Duffy’s low poll numbers. He is deluded if he thinks anyone will vote for him. He wrecked the country.
@Vincent: Unfortunately, if you think that people won’t vote for Bertie, you’re deluded. There is still a significant number of people who think that he’s not that bad. Idiots they may be, but they are idiots with a vote… and a visceral hatred for FG and Lab, the other two big(gish) guns…
@Michael Kavanagh: he’ll be counting on the political amnesia that’s a constant affliction in this country.
@Vincent: he can’t do much harm as president. At least he’d reach the podiums.
Bertie should be president of Mountjoy!
@Niall Power: From the inside
Wow! Next time the real Aras holes will be on display. Can’t wait:
Sean Gallagher might actually have a chance if those two run.
Back to screw us again and we probably would put the likes of Bertie and Enda in again.. Sigh :-(
@Willy Mc Caul: well given that FF have risen up again after the bank crisis , lest we forget, anything is possible . Funny how Labour were never forgiven for getting into bed with FF init ? So, given our history of believing that a family favourite party can bounce back and be great again it is possible to see Bertie as a good guy in a wave of amnesia only to be found in politics.
@Terry Cahill: Labour haven`t been forgiven for getting into bed with FG, FF ruined the country all by themselves
Bertie Ahern for President? What a joke, F.F. Think that Peter Casey is not good enough for them but they have no problem with chancers they have had in the past like Bertie, Haughey, Ray Burke, Liam Lawlor. Maybe Casey is just too straight for them?
@brian: too honest I’d say
Ahern the low life that sent a woman out to fight for him in the tribunal. I wonder has he got a bank account yet.
You could not make it up….those 2?
They will have to find bellenda first…Not a sign of hin in the dail since He stepped down….Hide and seek champion .
Brilliant idea , two of the biggest nails in the ffg coffins.
Van Helsing ; I have two Un-deads for you to deal with Please , Pretty Pretty Please .
What do people think of Vincent Brown?
@Kim Prylowski:
Vincent would be a shoe-in as President, given his popularity across the nation as the people’s champion, based on those entertaining grillings of bumptious establishment figures over many years on TV3s Tonight Show.
You’d miss that Comedy Gold!
@Kim Prylowski: why not ? many of them have done more for the ordinary people of this country than the like of enda or bertie ever did !
‘some big guns’ hahhahahhahahahhhaahahahah
Ahern could stable some of the horses that provided him with an alibi for his ill gotten gains.
“I won it on the horses” Ask me aras.
Typical nobody mentioned Gerry Adams or Mary loo or Cathrine Murphy or any other person working in the best interest of fairness to the people of Ireland. Including M,macabe and others who had to fight to prove innocents… Yet the establishment who have ruled this land over the last century ffglab deem to think the office of president is there,s to take…
And look who they think is suitable
Genuinely thought we couldn’t get a worse choice of candidates than 2018.
Enda and Bertie, two toxic failures of the modern age and two political dinosaurs who committed crimes against Ireland. I don’t know what’s worse the fact the parties think it’s ok to put them in for election or the fact that people will vote for them.
Do you want to ridden by End a or Bertie?
I wouldn’t bank on Bertie running…..
@Pauliebhoy: Does he run a Bank Account these days ? ? ?
Ahern should get seven years in prison, not in the bloody Áras.
@Jonathan Baum: Exactly idiots calling him Bertie and giving him press. He should be in jail
Bertie as president.has there ever been an Irish president assassinated?
If Bacik is a popular choice within the Labour Party it probably explains why they are where they are. An even worse choice than Hillary Clinton.
Don’t bother yer aras’s
How the hell are FG the most popular party? They must be conducting these polls down at the local labour exchange. The
these two parties , who have governed since the foundation of the state, and are organised widely throughout the country have just abdicated their responsibility and effectively boycotted the 2018 Presidential election, gifting it to the incumbent.
If the Presidential election had been a sporting championship, FG and FG were the contenders who didn`t bother to show up while SF at least did so. The title holder had an open goal, opposed only be non political non entities. And this is somehow being presented as a great `victorious endorsement for MDH`?, in addition most voters stayed at home, they rightly could see it was a stitch up.
What kind of a political policy is it to not fight elections if you think someone is too far ahead in the opinion polls, on that basis what`s the point in fielding candidates in the GE next time, lets just `award`it to Leo and FG?, they are 12 points ahead in the latest poll.
Bertie Ahern as President? No…no you see what needs to happen there now is that Bertie needs to be put back into the closet, the door firmly locked and the key melted and flushed down the toilet. Then take the house with the closet in it and attach it to a space shuttle that is going to Mars. When it gets to Mars, attach it to another shuttle that can go far,far,far beyond the solar system to a planet that is 100,000,0000,000,000 light years away from earth and where messages would take 70 million years to reach earth. Then have the shuttle slam into the ground on said planet,covering the house and closet, where it would not be discovered until closer to the end of time itself.
@Ben Jamen: are you sure that’ll be enough?
Should there not be choice on the ballot paper to reject all candidates?! Force the political parties to put forward diff appealing candidates. As opposed to voting for the best of a poor pool of candidates…something to think about going forward maybe
Bertie Ahern have you gone completely insane.Candidates for this election come under very close examination by the media in to their past.Dont think Bertie would want to relive all the hassle he had before dealing with issues where he came under a lot of pressure from tribunals etc.Leave sleeping dogs alone Bertie..
Gerry Malone Dundalk
Gerry Malone
Mary Kennedy or Catherine Connolly would wipe the floor with them easy.
Enda might get elected in mayo ha ha
Bertie in Dublin no hope
How the hell are FG the most popular party? They must be conducting these polls down at the local labour exchange.
Hard to believe they were both taoisaigh
So we’re back to the days of the The Viceroy Residents being a retirement home for elderly Politians. Save on nursing home fees and the fair deal I suppose.
Neither one of these deserve to be the 1st citizen of this country! Why are we determined to demean our country with some of the idiots we’ve had elected! Self-serving, unethical morons!
So we’re back to the days where the Viceroy’s Residents is a retirement home for elderly Politians. Saves on the fair deal and nursing home fees I suppose.
Mumbles v Mumbles
Fine gael should run mairead mcguinness. Enda is (probably unfairly) too toxic.
OMG
WTF
They may be relying on alot of the survivors of the damage done being around when they resurvace
I can’t believe anyone is discussing running a president after the farce we had last week, electing a man for another term as the president of our great country and we just after discovering that he has a golden goose giving him expenses that we the Irish people are paying for
We do not need a president we have more than enough elected officials to run this country whether we like them or not why do we need a president to represent us at civic events ? To shake hands with sportspeople ? It’s a joke
a bit too soon to be speculating about 2025. The world might before then.
Shows how deluded FG are if they think man “with 2 pints” Kenny could become president.
The man who once said “its morally reprehesible to tax a home” .The man who could not have a debate .. yeah bring on Kenny for the laugh :-)
Either Bertie Sheen or Enda Kenny would be a complete joke to put forward as president. Seriously this country has taken all it can, talk about rubbing their noses in it.
have your say