Israel launches airstrikes against Iranian military targets in Syria

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Iran of aggression, saying Israel will do whatever it takes to defend itself.

There are warnings that Syria’s long civil war could be entering a dangerous new phase.

It comes after Israel clashed with Syrian and Iranian military forces in a series of cross border strikes on the weekend.

On Saturday, Israel launched its largest strikes in decades inside Syria after intercepting what it says was an Iranian drone that had penetrated its airspace.

An Israeli fighter jet then crashed after coming under heavy Syrian anti-aircraft fire.

This prompted another wave of Israeli strikes against Syrian and Iranian targets inside Syrian territory.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netannyahu has accused Iran of aggression, saying Israel will do whatever it takes to defend itself.

The US has now supported Israel against Iran but Russia and the United Nations are calling for an immediate and unconditional de-escalation of violence.

Listen to the interview with Mohammad Morandi,  Professor of North American Studies, University of Tehran on the ABC RN Breakfast program.