Syrian Air Force Claim Shooting down Israeli Aircraft, Four Missiles: Reports

Syrian air defense forces have shot down an Israeli war plane over the town of Kiswah, south of the capital Damascus.

Syrian air force also shot down four Israeli missiles, according to Russian RIA news agency report citing a Syrian security source Thursday. However, the Israeli military has said that the report was bogus.

The Syrian air force shot down a "hostile target" flying over the town of Kiswah, south of the capital Damascus, state media said. Saudi-owned TV station Al-Arabiya reported that Israeli planes attacked Iranian militia positions in the country's south, Haaretz reported Thursday.

State media quoted a military source but did not specify what the target was or where it came from. Syrian opposition sources on the ground said the area was close to where the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah has a powerful presence with several bases. 

The Israeli army said a missile was fired at the Golan Heights, but that it remains unclear whether the projectile fell in Israel. Troops are scanning the area. The army added that reports that Israeli aircraft was hit are incorrect.

The Israel Defence Forces said in a statement on Twitter: "In the course of Syrian ground-to-air missile fire, (Israel's) air defences sighted a single trajectory toward an open area of the Golan Heights." 

"At this stage it remains unclear whether there was indeed an impact in our territory. Our forces are scouring the area. Furthermore, the report about a strike on an Israeli aircraft or an Israeli aerial target is bogus," said the statement.

Earlier, Syrian state media said Syrian air defences shot down "hostile targets" flying over the town of Kiswah.