In a major escalation of tension in the region, the jet fighter was shot down and crashed in northern Israel, according to media reports.

The two pilots, one of whom was severely injured, have ejected and landed in Israel.

Meanwhile, Syria’s state TV says the country’s air defense bases have opened fire and hit “more than one plane”, citing a military source.

“The Israeli enemy entity at dawn today conducted a new aggression against one of the military bases in the central region. Our air defenses confronted it and hit more than one plane,” the unidentified military source said.

Later, Syrian state media said air defenses were responding to a new Israeli assault and air defenses had thwarted attacks on military positions in southern Syria.

The Israeli military denied more than one plane had been hit, The Guardian reported.

Reporter’s code: 50101