Russia blasts Israel over downing of its aircraft
"Responsibility for the downing of the Russian plane lies solely with Israel," Russian defense minister says
By Elena Teslova
MOSCOW
Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu held a phone call with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman on Tuesday after a Russian military aircraft was downed by the Syrian air defenses over the Mediterranean, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"The responsibility for the downed Russian plane and the death of the crew lies solely with Israel," Shoygu told Lieberman, adding that Russia reserved the right to take steps in response.
A Russian Il-20 military aircraft with 15 servicemen on board has disappeared over the Mediterranean Sea, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said early Tuesday.
Russian Defense Ministry later announced that it was downed accidentally by Syrian S-200 air defense system, which is made by Russia.
The Syrian air defense was trying to repel an Israeli F-16 warplane which was carrying out an airstrike in the Syrian northwestern province of Latakia, according to the Russian ministry.
It said Israeli pilots used the Russian plane as a cover to hide from Syrian defense systems and made the Russian plane a target.
"Hiding behind the Russian plane, Israeli pilots put it in the line of fire of Syrian air defense", said the Russian ministry.
It also added Israel had informed Russia about a planned operation only one minute before the airstrike, leaving no time for the Russian military to move the plane away to a secure zone.
The ministry said rescue teams have been dispatched to the crash site to recover the bodies of the crew and the debris from the plane.
Israeli Ambassador in Moscow Garry Koren was summoned to the Foreign Ministry after the incident, a source in the foreign service told journalists on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.
- 'Incident with Il-20 will not influence Russian-Turkish agreements'
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the incident with Il-20 in Latakia will not affect Russian-Turkish agreements on Idlib.
"No, this incident will have no effect. This is an important, breakthrough agreement. It is crucial from the point of view of the future of Syria, it once again confirmed the ability of both Moscow and Ankara to reach compromise and effective solutions in the interests of the ultimate goal -- the Syrian settlement by the diplomatic means", he said at a conference call with journalists in Moscow.
On Monday, Russia and Turkey agreed to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib.
