Russian plane in Syria hit by missile, 15 soldiers killed
The bodies of the crew members of the IL-20 and their personal belongings, as well as the wreckage of the plane, are being brought to the deck of a Russian ship in Syria, - the Russian Defense Ministry announced.
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| IL-20 aircraft. Photo: Kirill Naumenko |
"On board the Russian ship are receiving the remains of crew members and personal belongings, as well as fragments of the IL-20 aircraft," the statement said.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that on September 17, at about 23:00 Moscow time, contact was lost with the Russian IL-20 aircraft while it was returning to the Hmeymim airbase and 35 km from the Mediterranean coast.
The Russian Defense Ministry statement said that at this time, four Israeli F-16 fighter jets attacked Syrian targets in Latakia.
According to data from the Russian military agency, hiding behind the Russian plane, Israeli pilots forced the plane to be hit by Syrian air defenses and the IL-20 was hit by the S-200 missile system. 15 Russian servicemen were killed.
The Russian Defense Ministry believes that Israeli aircraft deliberately created a dangerous situation in the Latakia area, and Israeli air control means could not have failed to notice the IL-20 because it was in a landing position.
At the same time, Israel did not inform the command of the Russian military group in Syria about its operational plans in the Latakia area.
The Russian military considers Israel's actions provocative and hostile, and Russia reserves the right to take appropriate retaliatory action.
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| Russian Defense Minister General Sergei Shoigu. Photo: Sputnik |
In a related development, Russian Defense Minister General Sergei Shoigu had a phone call with Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Mr. Shoigu stressed that the irresponsible actions of the Israeli Air Force led to the tragedy, which killed 15 Russian servicemen.
"Despite existing agreements preventing dangerous incidents with Israel, the command of the Russian military group received notification only one minute before the attack by Israeli F-16s," the Russian Defense Ministry's announcement quoted Sergei Shoigu as saying.
Russian IL-20 plane carrying 14 soldiers missing in Syria
The Hmeymim air base in Syria lost contact with the crew of the Russian IL-20 aircraft on the evening of September 17, according to an announcement from the Russian Ministry of Defense.