Iran Press- Middle East/ President Bashar al-Assad sent a cable of condolence to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, expressing deep regret over the missile strike on a Russian military aircraft over the Mediterranean Sea.
The Syrian president said the tragic incident was a direct result of Israeli Air Force strategy, deliberately putting the Russian plane in harm's way, SANA reported.
“On behalf of the Syrian people and by my name, we express our deep condolence over the downing of a Russian aircraft in the Mediterranean Sea, causing the martyrdom of Russian heroes who were doing their noble duties along with their colleagues of the Russian military forces in the fight against terrorism in Syria,” the President said in the cable.
The cable added that the regrettable incident was a result of evil strategy of the Israeli Air Force, which always uses the dirtiest means to achieve its nefarious goals and carry out its aggression in our region.“We are confident that such painful acts would not affect you and us to continue fighting terrorism,” the cable said.
The Russian military has accused the Israeli Air Force of playing a significant role in causing Syrian air defence forces to shoot down a Russian Il-20 plane, killing 15 Russian military personnel. The air defences were responding to an air raid by Israel on Latakia.
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Moscow says Israel responsible for downing of Russian military plane
According to a statement by Russia's ministry of defense, the Israeli Air Force launched their surprise night attack on Latakia in a way that deliberately put the Russian plane in harm’s way. The ministry said Israel must have known that they were setting up the Russian plane to be hit by a Syrian counterattack, but failed to either change their approach to targets in Syria or give Moscow enough time to move the Il-20 to safety, RT reported.
According to the Russian military, four Israeli F-16 fighter jets attacked targets in Syria on Monday night, approaching from the Mediterranean Sea at a low altitude. The Il-20 was on patrol in the same area, and was shot down by a Syrian S-200 surface-to-air missile that was launched in response to the Israeli attack.
The Russian president Vladimir Putin has also commented on the downing of the Russian plane. President Putin during a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Moscow on Tuesday, said: “When people are dying – especially under such circumstances – it is always a tragedy.”
Responding to a reporter’s question as to whether the incident in Latakia could be compared to the downing of the Russian Su-24 by Turkey in 2015, Putin said the two situations were “different.”
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