Russia revives allegations of Israeli guilt in plane shot down in Syria

BEIRUT – Tensions between Russia and Israel resumed on Sunday after the Russian defense ministry issued a harsh criticism of Israel's role in the destruction of a Russian plane in Syria last week, despite earlier efforts to smooth the pit.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman General Igor Konashenkov said the actions of Israeli fighter pilots had revealed the results of an investigation into the incident in which a Russian IL-20 plane was shot down on September 17 by a Syrian antiaircraft missile. "A lack of professionalism or, at a minimum, criminal negligence".

Fifteen Russian soldiers were killed aboard the plane, one of the largest single-issue tolls for Russian troops since Russia's military intervention in Syria three years ago.

By not warning enough of its intention to strike in the region, near the main Russian military base of Hmeimim in Syria, Israel has violated Russian-Israeli agreements to de-inflate their air operations in Syria, said Konashenkov. He said that an Israeli plane had used the Russian plane as a cover, so Syrian anti-aircraft fire exposure.

Konashenkov described Israel's behavior as "very ungrateful" in light of Russia's actions in Syria to meet Israeli demands, including the movement of Iranian troops from the Israeli-occupied Golan border and providing patrols. Russian.

Israel responded with a statement contesting Russia's conclusions, saying it had already submitted to Russia a detailed account of the incident that showed Israel had acted within the limits of the Russian-Israeli agreements.

Israel also said last week that its planes had returned to Israeli airspace at the launch of the missiles.

The Israeli statement added that it would continue to strike when it chose in Syria to counter what it called "Iran's incessant attempts to gain a foothold in Syria and arm the terrorist organization Hezbollah with lethal and precise weapons. ". necessary measures' to ensure the safety and well-being Russian troops, he added.

Russia's criticism on Sunday contrasted with President Vladimir Putin's assessment last week that the plane's shots were due to a "chain of tragic accidental circumstances" and not to missteps. 'Israel. In seeking to contain tensions, he pointed out that Russia's ties with Israel were too important to be endangered, despite the deaths of the soldiers.

The Ministry of Defense's reiteration of allegations that Israel was guilty has raised new questions about the persistence of their understanding that Russia has tolerated multiple Israeli air strikes against Hezbollah militia targets in Syria despite Moscow's close alliance with Damascus and Tehran.

Russia has not indicated that it plans to take action against Israel. But Moscow's retreat against the Israeli version of events seemed to surprise Israel, after the question seemed to have been settled last week.and raised the question of whether Russia could seek to restrict Israel's freedom of maneuver in the future in Syria..

The incident also put the Kremlin in a difficult situation. Acknowledging Syrian responsibility for the deaths of 15 Russian servicemen, Russia's alliance with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would not have been enlightenedin the midst of national political challenges for Putin and Russian public discontent with Moscow's commitment to Syria.

Blaming Israel, however, also entails risks. Putin called Israel a key partner, and Russian officials said his close ties to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were an excellent example of Russia's growing influence in the Middle East.

Troianovski brought back from Moscow and Eglash from Jerusalem.

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