Alwaght- Iran foreign ministry has denounced Israeli claim that the regime had intercepted an Iranian drone launched from Syria.
"Claims about the flight of an Iranian drone … are so ridiculous to be addressed because the Islamic Republic of Iran has advisory presence in Syria at the request of the country's legitimate and legal government," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Saturday.
"The government and army of Syria as an independent country have a legitimate right to defend [the country's] territorial integrity and counter any type of foreign aggression," he added.
The Iranian spokesperson emphasized that the "illegitimate" Israeli regime cannot cover up its atrocities and crimes against Muslim nations in the region by playing a blame game and spreading lies.
Syrian army has shot down an Israeli F-16 jet on Saturday after the warplane attacked positions inside the Arab country's territory.
Syria’s state TV cited a military official as saying that Syrian aerial defense had responded to Israeli “aggression” against an army base in the center of the Arab country.
Later in the day, the Israeli military claimed that it had attacked positions inside the Syrian territory after it intercepted an Iranian drone launched from Syria.
A senior commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) also said on Saturday that Iran would confirm no report coming out of Israel “because the Israelis are liars.”
Brigadier General Hossein Salami, the IRGC’s second-in-command, told Tasnim news agency that Iran would only confirm a drone interception if Syria made that confirmation.
He also said that Iran had no military presence in Syria and that the Syrian Army was adequately capable of defending Syrian territory.
Lebanon condemns Israel’s aggression against Syria
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry, in a statement, denounced Israel’s aggression against Syria, saying Beirut supports Damascus’ “legitimate right” to defend itself and respond to Israel's "aggression.”
The statement added that such "aggressive policy" threatens stability in the region and urged concerned countries to "rein in" Israel.
Lebanese Defense Ministry also denounced the use of Lebanon’s air space for any Israeli strike on Syria.
Separately, Lebanese President Michel Aoun discussed the latest Israeli aggression against Syria with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
Russia stresses need to respect Syria’s sovereignty
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow was seriously concerned by the latest developments in Syria and called on sides to exercise restraint and avoid an escalation of the situation.
"It is necessary to unconditionally respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and other countries in the region,” noted the ministry.
