February 2018 Israel–Syria incident facts for kids
In February 2018, an Israeli F-16 jet was shot down by Syrian air defenses near the border between Syria and Israel. Two pilots were hurt. A few hours later, Israel attacked targets in Syria. This event was part of an ongoing hidden fight, called a proxy conflict, between Iran and Israel in the Middle East.
A proxy war happens when two countries want to fight or compete, but instead of directly attacking each other, they attack each other's friends or allies. Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he did not want Iran to set up military bases, troops, or weapons close to Israel's borders.
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Countries React to the Incident
After the event, many countries and groups shared their thoughts.
Israel's View
Israel: Israel said it wants peace. However, it also stated it would keep defending itself strongly against any attack. Israel also said it would stop Iran from building up its military in Syria or anywhere else nearby.
Syria's View
Syria: Syria's Ministry of Defense announced that Israel had attacked some military places in the southern part of Syria. They said their air defenses fought back and stopped the attack.
Iran's View
Iran: Iran said that reports of their drone flying over Israel and their involvement in attacking an Israeli jet were "ridiculous." Iran stated it only gives military advice to Syria.
Hezbollah's View
Hezbollah: Hezbollah, a group from Lebanon, praised Syria for fighting back against Israel's attacks on Iranian and Syrian bases. They said it marked a "new strategic phase" that would stop Israel from violating Syrian land.
Lebanon's View
Lebanon: The Lebanese Foreign Ministry spoke out against the attacks on Syria. They said Syria had a right to defend itself against any Israeli attacks. The statement also added that Israel's actions threaten peace in the region. Lebanon asked other countries to make Israel stop its attacks.
Russia's View
Russia: Russia's Foreign Ministry was worried about the fighting getting worse, especially in areas meant to be safe zones in Syria. They asked everyone involved to be careful and avoid actions that could make the situation much harder. Russia also said that Syria's land and borders must be respected. They stressed that it was wrong to put Russian soldiers, who are in Syria to help fight terrorists, in danger.
United States' View
United States: The U.S. Department of Defense said it did not take part in the military action. They added that Israel is their closest security partner in the region. The U.S. fully supports Israel's right to defend itself and its people from threats.
United Kingdom's View
United Kingdom: Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson shared his concerns about the events. However, he supported Israel's right to defend itself. He said the UK supports Israel's right to protect its land from any invasions. Johnson also mentioned that Iran's actions make it harder to achieve real peace. He encouraged Russia to use its influence to push Syria and its allies to avoid actions that cause trouble and to help calm things down for a bigger peace deal.
United Nations' View
United Nations: The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, said he was closely watching the fighting in Syria and how it was spreading to other countries. He called for an immediate stop to the violence in Syria.
Images for kids
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Benjamin Netanyahu shows part of the downed Iranian drone at the Munich Security Conference.
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See also
In Spanish: Incidente entre Israel y Siria de febrero de 2018 para niños
