Damascus has warned that Israel can expect ‘further surprises’ if it launches more attacks Syrian soil after one of its jets was shot down on Saturday.

Assistant foreign minister Ayman Sussan warned that his country is more than capable of ‘confronting attacks’ despite being wracked by civil war. 

Sussan spoke after Syrian anti-aircraft fire downed an Israeli F16 as it returned from a bombing raid on Iran-backed positions in Syria early on Saturday.

Damascus has warned of 'further surprises' for Israel if it launches attacks on Syrian soil after an F16 jet was shot down while returning from a bombing run on Saturday

Damascus has warned of ‘further surprises’ for Israel if it launches attacks on Syrian soil after an F16 jet was shot down while returning from a bombing run on Saturday

He said: ‘Have full confidence the aggressor will be greatly surprised because it thought this war – this war of attrition Syria has been exposed to for years – had made it incapable of confronting attacks.

‘God willing they will see more surprises whenever they try to attack Syria.’

Israel accused Iranian forces in Syria – which are backing the government of Bashar al-Assad – of flying a drone into their territory early on Saturday.

As a result they launched airstrikes against Iranian positions deep inside Syria, which resulted in one of their jets being shot down as it returned to Israel.

In retaliation, Israel lauched more strikes in Syria, saying it destroyed 12 targets including four Iranian bases.

On Sunday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the success of the strikes, but made no mention of future operations.

Israel launched a series of bombing runs in Syria after its jet was shot down, saying it had destroyed 12 targets, including four Iranian bases

Israel launched a series of bombing runs in Syria after its jet was shot down, saying it had destroyed 12 targets, including four Iranian bases

Israel launched a series of bombing runs in Syria after its jet was shot down, saying it had destroyed 12 targets, including four Iranian bases

The Syrian government spoke out after Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had struck a 'hard blow' to Iranian and Syrian targets

The Syrian government spoke out after Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had struck a 'hard blow' to Iranian and Syrian targets

The Syrian government spoke out after Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had struck a ‘hard blow’ to Iranian and Syrian targets

 ‘We inflicted on Saturday a heavy blow to Iranian and Syrian forces,’ he said.

‘We made clear to everyone that our rules of engagement will not change in any way.

‘We will continue to harm anyone who tries to harm us. This was our policy and this will remain our policy.’ 

Iran´s involvement in Syria, including the deployment of Iran-backed forces near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, has alarmed Israel, which has said it would counter any threat and has mounted regular attacks into Syria.

Israel also has accused Iran of planning to build precision-guided missile factories in Lebanon, which is home to the powerful Hezbollah movement, one of the groups fighting in support of Assad in Syria.



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