An Airbus A320 with 172 passengers on board was forced to made an emergency landing in Russia-controlled Khmeimim air base after Syrian air defense was activated.
The Cham Wings Airlines A320 was diverted by the Damascus ATC as the Syrian air defense systems engaged four Israeli F-16s and was on high alert due to incoming missiles, and the civilian could have found itself in the crossfire.
The Syrian air defense was trying to repulse an Israeli attack near Damascus, Russian state news agency RIA said on Friday citing Russian defense ministry spokesman.
According to the spokesman, after 2 a.m., four Israeli F-16 fighter jets struck eight air-to-ground missiles in the suburbs of Damascus without entering Syrian airspace.
