Assad regime downed Israeli moon mission, claims Syrian ex-lawmaker

A former Syrian lawmaker has claimed that the Assad regime derailed a failed attempt by Israel on Thursday to land a spacecraft on the moon.

Ahmad Shalash, who is a staunch supporter of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, made the dubious claim on social media after the Israeli craft crashed onto the lunar surface.

"An Israeli spacecraft has crashed during landing on the moon. We have previously said that the operations of Syria's intelligence service would surprise everyone and that the arenas for conflict are open," Shalash said.

"I will not say any more or be more explicit," he added.

Israeli scientists believe the craft suffered engine failure as it prepared to land and crashed on the moon's surface.

Shalash's comment has been widely mocked on social media.

"Wow you guys destroyed the spaceship that went to the moon but you couldn't destroy their tanks that went to the Golan," joked one Twitter user.

Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967. The two countries remain technically at war.