An Israeli drone on display. Photo: Zachi Evenor via Wikicommons.

Israel fired a Patriot missile on Sunday at a drone on its northern border with Syria after the unmanned device appeared to be poised to enter its territory, the country’s military said.

According to Hebrew website Walla, the missile did not strike the target. The drone apparently failed to penetrate Israeli territory, but was on a course to do so. Following the missile launch, the drone changed course and headed back toward Syrian territory.

The IDF issued a statement saying it “will not allow any violation of the aerial sovereignty of the State of Israel and will act against any attempt to harm its citizens.”

It is not known precisely who launched the drone, but Iranian forces in Syria have attempted drone infiltrations in the past. In February, an Iranian drone laden with explosives crossed into Israeli territory. It was shot down by the air force and it is now believed that it was intended to carry out a terror attack.