Israeli warplanes have struck targets inside Syria for the third time in four days, carrying out raids early Monday morning.
Unconfirmed reports say the latest raids struck a Hezbollah convoy on the Syrian-Lebanese border.
Early Friday the Israeli military carried out missions — also reportedly against Hezbollah targets — and shot down one of three anti-aircraft missiles fired by the regime, using the Arrow 3 anti-aircraft missile system for the first time.
See Syria Daily, March 17: Israel Strikes Targets, Downs Anti-Aircraft Missile
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman threatened on Sunday, “The next time the Syrians use their air defense systems against our planes we will destroy them without the slightest hesitation.”
Also on Sunday an Israeli drone hit a vehicle in Quneitra Province in southwest Syria, killing Yasser al-Sayed, a commander in Syria’s air defense unit.
Syrian State media has declared the downing of Israeli jets and drones, without producing any evidence.
Israel’s Ambassador to Moscow was summoned by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday over the incidents. Syria’s UN Ambassador Bashar al-Ja’afari claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin “sent a clear message”, regarding Israel’s freedom to operate, that “this game is over”; however, Russia has not confirmed this.