JERUSALEM, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army launched a Patriot missile toward a Syrian drone flying over the demilitarized zone on Friday afternoon, according to a statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The Syrian drone was "most likely" intercepted, said the Israeli army.

The IDF will "continue to operate against attempts to violate the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement, threats to Israeli sovereignty or any attempt to harm Israeli civilians," added the IDF.

This was the second case in which the Israeli air defenses fired at a Syrian drone with a Patriot missile within a week.

A Syrian drone was shot down on Wednesday by Israeli army with Patriot missile after it travelled for approximately 10 km into Israel. The IDF said the drone did not carry weapons and was designed to carry out surveillance missions.

The IDF also said it "holds the Syrian regime accountable for the actions carried out in its territory and warns against further actions against Israeli forces."

In response to the infiltration of the intercepted Syrian drone, Israel's army struck three Syrian army positions on Wednesday midnight.

Israel is worried about the presence of Iran, ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, in Syria, and demands all Iranian forces completely withdraw from the war-torn country.

Israel has reportedly carried out several deadly airstrikes against Iranian and Iran-backed targets in Syria.