BICOM

Russia admitted to Israel that a UAV flown from Syria into the Golan Heights last month was a Russian spy plane and not a Hezbollah drone as suspected, according to newspaper Haaretz.

The drone, which entered Israel on July 17, was circling a residential town in the Golan Heights when Israeli jets scrambled to intercept it. Shots fired from F-16 fighters failed to bring down the UAV, and Patriot Missiles also missed their target, allowing the drone to escape across the border. Initially, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the drone, but Israeli security sources suggested that it was more likely to be Russian or Syrian.

Russia now admits that the UAV was theirs, and claims it flew over the Golan Heights in error.

According to a Haaretz piece by Amos Harel, Israel tends to believe Russia’s claim that the drone incursion was an accident. On the day of the incident, Israel Air Force (IAF) officers called the special hotline established by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin to coordinate air operations. In at least seven calls, the Russian Air Force insisted that the drone was not theirs.

The IDF suspects that Russia was unaware that their drone was in the wrong place so weren’t able to confirm it was theirs.

The IAF is investigating the failure to shoot down the drone. Israel has previously faced UAVs from Hezbollah in Lebanon and even rudimentary drones from Hamas in Gaza. The small, light, cheap craft can be hard to detect and shoot down.

Russia is working with Iran and Hezbollah in Syria to stabilise the Assad regime and fight the various anti Assad rebel groups. Despite the fact that most of Russia’s allies in Syria look unfavourably towards Israel, both Russia and Israel have been working hard to maintain coordination and a positive relationship. Netanyahu and Putin speak regularly, and the IAF coordinates with the Russian Air Force.

According to international media reports, Israel has struck Iranian and Hezbollah arms convoys in Syria, including in areas that are under the Russian Air Force’s military umbrella.