Netanyahu Insists Israel Will Continue Bombing Syria As Needed

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday rejected the idea of internationally-imposed restrictions on Israeli military action in Syria after a serious clash with Iranian and Syrian forces earlier in the week.

Israel has bombed Syrian regime, Iranian and Hezbollah targets and facilities in war-torn Syria a number of times over the past few years, usually to prevent the transfer of game-changing weaponry to terror groups.

But last weekend, it was Iranian provocation that resulted in a significant confrontation that left numerous bases in Syria destroyed and saw Israel lose its first military plane to enemy fire in nearly 35 years.

Minutes after an Iranian drone penetrated Israeli airspace, it was destroyed by Israel Air Force helicopters.

The Air Force launched an immediate retaliatory strike against the facility from which the drone was piloted, deep inside Syria. An Israeli F-16 was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed shortly after returning to Israeli airspace.

Israel again responded with a massive aerial assault on Syrian anti-aircraft batteries and secret Iranian bases throughout the country.

Netanyahu is heading to the Munich Security Conference, which he called "the most important security convention in the world," and where the prime minister is expected to come under heavy pressure to limit Israeli military responses to what's happening in Syria.

Speaking to reporters before departing Israel, Netanyahu said that's not going to happen.

"I will again emphasize our determination to defend ourselves, of our own power, with no restriction," he said while boarding his plane at Ben Gurion Airport.