The IDF shot down a Russian-made Syrian spy drone over the Golan Heights on Saturday morning using a U.S.-made Patriot surface-to-air missile.

“It is apparently Russian-manufactured and belongs to the Syrian regime,” IDF spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Conricus, told Reuters.“It was a reconnaissance UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) and not an attack UAV and we are checking whether there is any connection to Iran and Hezbollah.”

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said that “the State of Israel takes any attempt to harm its sovereignty very seriously, and will respond harshly to any provocation.”

“We see the Syrian government as responsible for all missiles and any violation of our sovereignty. We call on the Syrian government to rein in all those acting in its territory.

“We will not allow the Shiite axis to use Syria as a base for expanded operations. The unmanned aerial vehicle was sent to gather intelligence, and seems to belong to the Syrian regime.”