IDF sources estimate Monday that the “downed Israel Air Force jet seen falling from Beirut’s skies" was actually a Zelzal-type long-range missile, which is capable of reaching central Israel.
According to army sources, the Air Force struck a missile launching device, and as a result one rocket was accidentally fired but landed nearby.
Earlier Hizbullah's television station and other media in the Arab world reported that an Israel Air Force aircraft crashed in eastern Beirut, in an area called al-Warwar.
The al-Jazeera network aired a short film showing the "crash" – a ball of fire quickly falling into buildings, leaving behind trail of smoke.
IDF officials said following a short inquiry that all aircrafts were safe.
Initially military officials raised the possibility that it was a box carrying leaflets which failed to open and fell down, a Hizbullah missile or "another internal incident."