Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, Feb. 10

DAMASCUS -- The Syrian air defenses responded to a second Israeli attack on Saturday near the capital Damascus, state news agency SANA reported.

The Israeli attack targeted military positions in countryside of Damascus, as several explosions were heard in that area, said the report, adding that the Syrian air defenses were triggered by the attack. (Syria-Israel-Defenses)

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JERUSALEM -- The Israeli army launched a large-scale attack against the Syrian aerial defense system and Iranian targets in Syria in response to an Israeli F-16 fighter shot down by missiles from Syria on Saturday morning.

Twelve targets, including three aerial defense batteries and four Iranian targets that are part of Iran's military establishment in Syria were attacked, said a statement issued by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). (Israel-Syria-Attack)

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ANKARA -- A Turkish military combat helicopter crashed on Saturday in northwestern Syria's Afrin during the ongoing operation, and two soldiers were killed, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said.

It is not clear at this point whether the incident occurred due to an external intervention or not. An investigation has been launched, he told journalists in southwestern Mugla province, local TV channel CNN Turk reported. (Turkey-Syria-Helicopter Crash)

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JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday evening that Israel holds Iran and Syria responsible for the latest "aggression."

"We will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect our sovereignty and security", said Netanyahu in a statement. (Israel-Iran-Syria) Enditem