Iranian Drone Launched From Syria was Armed, Israel Says

By ISABEL KERSHNER APRIL 14, 2018

JERUSALEM — A drone that took off from Syria and penetrated Israeli airspace in February was armed and on an Iranian mission to carry out an attack in Israeli territory, the Israeli military said Friday.

The drone was shattered by helicopter gunships, preventing the attack, according to the military, which did not disclose the supposed target.

The February episode set off a day of intense battle, escalating the conflict between Israel and Iran, one of several overlapping conflicts in the Syrian war. Israel’s announcement on Friday, hours before the American-led strikes against Syria, added another element of volatility into an already tense region.

Iran entered the war to defend its ally, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, against a rebel insurgency. But as the rebel threat has waned, Iran has stayed, building a military infrastructure in Syria to create a land corridor to Lebanon and to counter Israel, adding to Iran’s ability to strike quickly to deter Israel from attacking its nuclear facilities.

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