IDF Spokesman Ronen Manelis said that Israel shot down a Syrian plane heading towards Israeli airspace as part of a larger goal to prevent any spillover from clashes between the regime in Damascus and Syrian rebel forces.
"In recent days there has been an increase in fighting by the Syrian army in an attempt to capture and take control of the Syrian Golan," noted Manelis.
"The IDF has conveyed a message to the Syrians and other elements in recent days that it will not allow the fighting to spill over into Israel."