Israel Fires Missile At Drone That Approached From Syria

ISRAEL -- Israeli military launch a missile from the Iron Dome air defence system, designed to intercept and destroy incoming short-range rockets and artillery shells, from a position in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, May 29 2018

JERUSALEM, July 11 (Reuters)

Israel launched a Patriot interceptor missile on Wednesday at a drone spotted approaching from Syria, the second such incident in as many months, the Israeli military said.

The incident set off air defence sirens on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the nearby Jordanian border, the military statement said.

Israel has been on high alert as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces advance against rebels near the Golan and Jordan. Israel worries that he could deploy troops or allow his Iranian and Hezbollah allies to set up emplacements near Israeli lines.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Moscow on Wednesday for Syria talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose military is helping Assad beat back a 7-year-old insurgency.

On June 24, Israel’s military said it launched a Patriot missile at an incoming drone from Syria, which turned away unscathed. A Syrian commander said the drone was engaged in local operations.

(Writing by Dan Williams Editing by Jeffrey Heller and Peter Graff)