Israeli Skylark I drone 'downed in Syria'

The Syrian regime has claimed its forces captured an Israeli drone that was flying over Syrian territory.

The unmanned aircraft was brought down near the village of Hadar, in the province of Quneitra, near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the Syrian army said.

Footage of the purportedly captured drone aired by Syrian state media showed what appeared to be an Israeli Skylark I model UAV.

The report did not say whether the aircraft was shot down or if it just crashed on Syrian soil.

Skylark I drones are produced by Israeli defence electronics firm Elbit Systems and used in intelligence gathering operations, Haaretz newspaper reported.

An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson told Ynet they had no knowledge of a UAV falling or being downed.

Regime forces have been battling rebel groups in the Quneitra province, with some fighting spilling over into the Golan Heights during the three and a half year civil war.

Israel reportedly shot down a Syrian fighter over the Golan Heights earlier this year.

The Israeli military is also thought to have carried out a series of air strikes against Syrian government positions over the course of the war, in a bid to stop military equipment falling in to Hezbollah's possession.