Скачать или смотреть Russian military aircraft accidentally shot down by Syrian forces, Moscow blames Israel

Russia's military on Tuesday said one of its aircraft was shot down by Syrian government missiles, killing all 15 people on board. It blamed Israel for the crash, saying the plane was caught in the crossfire as four Israeli fighters attacked targets in northwestern Syria.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that the Il-20 jet was hit 22 miles off the coast late Monday as it was returning to the Russian base near the city of Lattakia.

"The Israeli pilots were using the Russian aircraft as a shield and pushed it into the line of fire of the Syrian defense," Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.


Konashenkov called Israeli military's actions "irresponsible," according to Reuters.

"This absolutely does not correspond to the spirit of Russian-Israeli partnership,” Konashenkov said, according to the wire service, citing Interfax news agency.

The ministry accused the Israeli army of "intentional provocation,"

Israeli and French fighters were attacking targets at the time, Moscow said, according to the report.

Russia said it would make an "appropriate response" to Israel.

The military said Israel did not warn it of its operation over Latakia province until one minute before the strike, which did not give the Russian plane enough time to escape.

A recovery operation in the Mediterranean Sea is underway, Konashenkov said.

Russia has been a key backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad and it has two military bases in the country, including one close to the Mediterranean coast.

A spokesman for France’s military denied any involvement.

Israel’s military, contacted before Russia alleged Israel was to blame, declined to comment, according to Reuters.