ANKARA: Iran, Israel’s regional arch-enemy, rejected as “ridiculous”reports that Israel had intercepted an Iranian drone launched from Syria onSaturday, state TV reported.

Separately, a Revolutionary Guards’ official said he could not confirm thereport because Israelis were “liars”.

Israel said it launched air strikes against air defences and Iraniantargets in Syria on Saturday and the Syrian army claimed to have hit anIsraeli F-16 that crashed in northern Israel in a major escalation oftension.

“Reports of downing an Iranian drone flying over Israel and also Iran’sinvolvement in attacking an Israeli jet are so ridiculous,” state TV quotedIran’s foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi as saying.

Iran is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s main regional ally and denieshaving any conventional armed forces in Syria, though it has acknowledgedhaving military advisers and volunteers from its elite Revolutionary GuardsCorps (IRGC) in Syria.

“Iran only provides military advice to Syria based on the request of thecountry’s legitimate government,” Qasemi said.

The Israeli military said the F-16 jet crashed during a mission to strikeIranian drone installations in Syria, where Iranian and Iran-backed forceshave established a major foothold while fighting in support of Assad.

Israel said it had sent its jets into Syria after shooting down an Iraniandrone flying over Israeli territory on Saturday. Israel said its warplanescame under fire in Syria, though it was still unclear why the jet had comedown.

“Syria’s legitimate government has every right to defend its soil andterritory against any foreign aggressor,” Qasemi said, state TV reported.

Earlier the deputy head of Iran’s IRGC declined to comment on the reports,according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

“We cannot confirm this report on the drone because Israelis are liars …if Syrians confirm it, Iran will confirm it as well,” Brigadier GeneralHossein Salami said. – Agencies