Syrian Gunfire Target Israeli Drone Operating Over Golan Front

St. Inigoes, Md. (June 27, 2005) – A “Skylark” Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) on display at the 2005 Naval UAV Air Demo held at the Webster Field Annex of Naval Air Station Patuxent River. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain.

On May 24, gunfire from Syria territory targeted a drone of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) that was operating over the Golan Heights front.

In a statement, the IDF said that the drone was conducting “routine surveillance activity” when it was targeted by light gunfire, adding that the vehicle managed to land safely without sustaining any damage.

Israeli main battle tanks returned machine gun fire at the area in southern Syria where the gunfire was detected, according to the IDF.

The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency did not immediately comment on the incident, and unofficial news sources did not provide any details about the Israeli response.

Tensions have been mounting on the Golan Heights front. Earlier this month, the IDF dropped leaflets over the southern Syrian governorates of Daraa and al-Qunitra warning the locals and security forces there from cooperating with Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Tel Aviv believes that Hezbollah is working to establish a network of cells in southern Syria to launch attacks against Israel-occupied territory. The IDF carried out several direct fire attacks and ground intrusions into the region in the last few months to thwart the alleged plot.

In April, the IDF targeted several positions of the Syrian Arab Army in the countryside of al-Qunitra with artillery and missiles after dropping leaflets warning against Hezbollah presence near the separation line. Two Israeli drones were reportedly lost while coordinating the strikes.

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