Orient News, Feb. 11, 2018 – The US was “deeply” concerned about Saturday’s escalation of violence in Syria, the State Department said.

“Iran’s calculated escalation of threat and its ambition to project its power and dominance, places all the people of the region — from Yemen to Lebanon — at risk,” spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

She said Washington continues to push back on the totality of Iran’s “malign” activities in the region and called for an end to Iranian behavior that “threatens” peace and stability.

Earlier Saturday, the Israeli army said its forces shot down an Iranian drone launched from Syria and also hit several targets inside the war-torn neighboring country.

On its way back from the mission, one of Israel’s F-16 fighter jets crashed in northern Israel after coming under heavy antiaircraft fire, by Assad, Iranian-backed, defenses.

Iran, for its part, denied the allegation, describing Israeli statements about shooting down an Iranian drone as “lies”.