Tensions escalated when the Israeli military shot down an Iranian drone who they suspect infiltrated Israel early Saturday before launching an attack on dozens of Iranian targets in Syria, Reuters reported. Israel, upon discovering the drone hovering over their territory, shot it down and sent warplanes to Syria on a mission to strike Iranian drone installations in the region. The jet came under fire from Iranian forces, however, it is unclear why the jet crashed, Reuters reported. "Twelve targets, including three aerial defence batteries and four Iranian targets that are part of Iran's military establishment in Syria were attacked," the Israeli military said in a statement. "During the attack, anti-aircraft missiles were fired towards Israel, triggering alarms that were heard in Northern Israel," the military said.

The spectacular sight of 1,218 drones forming the Olympic rings during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics was pre-recorded. Organisers had said that because of "possible freezing weather and strong winds" that part of the event had been "secretly pre-recorded". The International Olympic Committee said it was this footage that was used. "Due to impromptu logistical changes it (drone deployment) did not proceed," said an IOC spokesman. The feat was a Guinness World Record for drones used in a performance.

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The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the first round targeted in the central desert area where Syrian troops and their Iranian-backed allies including Hezbollah are known to maintain bases. It cited unconfirmed reports of casualties among Syrian government forces and allied militiamen.

An Israeli F-16 jet crashed after encountering heavy anti-aircraft from Syrian air defenses on Saturday. Israel's top military leaders were weighing the country's next move Saturday after Israeli forces shot down an Iranian drone that infiltrated the country -- and conducted raids in Syria, where they believe the drone was launched. One Israeli pilot was reported to have been seriously wounded after an emergency evacuation after his F-16 jet came under Syrian fire. The jet crashed in northern Israel. A second pilot was lightly wounded.

New Delhi: With its allocation for the Digital India programme almost doubled in the Union Budget 2018, the IT ministry plans to graduate to the second phase of its roll out with emphasis on promotion of artificial intelligence (AI) and electronic manufacturing. The ministry has set up four committees to encourage research related to AI which will be headed by directors of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Nasscom and eminent researchers, minister of electronics and information technology Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Friday. "These committees will research and work on development of citizen-centric use cases; data platform; skilling, re-skilling, research and development; and legal regulatory, ethical and cyber-security," said Prasad. According to him, a high-level meeting with around 50 participants including 5-6 directors of IITs, Nasscom and private entities was organized to lay out the road map to promote AI in the country. The IT ministry will be coordinating with NITI Aayog on this, he added.

Israel has long complained about the involvement of archenemy Iran, and Iranian proxy Hezbollah, in the Syria war. The Shiite allies have sent forces to back Syrian President Bashar Assad, who appears headed toward victory after years of fighting. Israel has said it will not accept a permanent military presence by Iran and its Shiite allies in Syria, especially near the Israeli border.

An Israeli fighter jet has crashed amid Syrian anti-aircraft fire after an offensive against Iranian targets in Syria, the Israeli military says. The two pilots ejected and parachuted to safety after the crash in northern Israel. They were taken to hospital. Israel said its aircraft, an F-16 jet, was carrying out strikes in response to the launch of an Iranian drone into Israel. Syria opened fire after an Israeli act of "aggression", state media said.

Israel's military says it has targeted what it calls Iranian sites within Syrian territory after intercepting an Iranian-made drone. Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, Israeli military spokesman, said on Twitter on Saturday that the drone entered Israeli occupied Golan Heights. He also said one of Israeli fighter jets was shot down during their Syria operation, but the pilot ejected and landed safely. "IDF [Israel Defence Forces] has targeted the Iranian control systems in Syria that sent the #UAV into Israeli airspace. Massive Syrian Anti-Air fire, one F16 crashed in Israel, pilots safe," said Conricus.

JERUSALEM – The Israeli military says it has shot down an Iranian drone that infiltrated the country and has struck Iranian targets in Syria that launched it. The military says that as part of the unusual event early Saturday one of its F-16 jets crashed in northern Israel. The military says the pilots abandoned the aircraft and were safe. It says sirens sounded in northern Israel as a result of the anti-aircraft fire from Syria. Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus said Iran was "responsible for this severe violation of Israeli sovereignty."