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Russia summons Israel envoy after plane downed in Syria
MOSCOW, Sept 18, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Russia on Tuesday summoned the Israeli
ambassador after a Russian plane was shot down over Syria, an incident Moscow
has blamed on Israel’s air force.
“The Israeli ambassador has been summoned to the foreign ministry over the
situation,” a ministry representative told AFP.
Ambassador Gary Koren’s deputy Keren Cohen Gat, currently the charge
d’affaires at the Israeli embassy, went to the foreign ministry on Tuesday
for a meeting of about 30 minutes.
She refused to comment to media as she exited the building.
The Russian Il-20 warplane with 15 people on board was shot down by the
Syrian air defence late Monday.
Russia’s defence ministry said “full blame” rests with the Israeli aircraft
which carried out strikes on Syria’s Latakia province and “used the Russian
plane as a cover”.
Israel’s military has expressed “sorrow” over deaths of Russian servicemen,
though denied its planes had already left Syrian airspace when the Russian
plane was taken down.
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed the matter with his Israeli
counterpart Avigdor Lieberman on Tuesday, warning that Moscow could retaliate
with unspecified “measures”.
BSS/AFP/MRI/2041 HRS