IAF has shot down a Syrian Su-24, using Patriot SAMs.
This pretty much went un noticed since it happened on the first day of US air strikes. It also seems like both sides do not want things to get heated.
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/23/world/meast/syria-israel-plane/index.htmlhttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29324424Lately Syrian jets have been flying into the (very narrow) buffer zone in the Syrian Golan heights in order to attack Syrian rebel positions. Also, there have been multiple cases of ground fire "spilling over" into the Israeli side. The IDF has a zero tolerance for such events for fear of it becoming a routine. In this case the Su-24 has flown into the buffer zone raising the alarm in the IAF, then proceeded to cross the border. At that moment the SAM has been launched. The Su must have realized his mistake because it turned sharply back east, but the missile caught up with it and the pieces and the pilots (ejected) fell on the Syrian side.
Last fighter kills were in 1985 in a somewhat similar event - Mig 23s were patrolling near the Lebanese border against IAF recon action and were carried a bit too far west, most likely by mistake. In the very short time and confused situation, the F15s were authorized to shoot first and ask questions later, which they did. IAF fighter pilots must be cursing the SAM operators now for stealing their action ... Only flying thing they got to shoot at since 30 years were Hizballa drones (as far as my memory serves me).
