- An F-15I fighter jet performs an acrobatic display
The Syrian army said it shot down an Israeli warplane and hit a second one as they were carrying out predawn strikes near the famed desert city of Palmyra on Friday, a claim denied by the Israeli military.
“Our air defense engaged them and shot down one warplane over occupied territory, hit another one, and forced the rest to flee,” the Syrian army said in a statement carried by state news agency SANA.
The IDF denied the allegation.
“We repeat, at no point was the safety of Israeli civilians or the IAF aircraft compromised,” an army spokesperson said in response to the claim, referring to a statement made earlier on Friday morning.