Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to hold a telephone conversation in the next few hours with Russian President Vladimir Putin following the crash of a Russian reconnaissance aircraft in Syria, a diplomatic source told Sputnik on Tuesday.
TEL AVIV (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 18th September, 2018) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to hold a telephone conversation in the next few hours with Russian President Vladimir Putin following the crash of a Russian reconnaissance aircraft in Syria, a diplomatic source told Sputnik on Tuesday.
"A conversation between the two leaders will take place in the near future," the source said.
The Russian Defense Ministry said contact with Russia's Il-20 returning to the Khmeimim airbase was lost late on Monday. The ministry said that around that time four Israeli F-16 fighters attacked Syrian targets in Latakia. It said that Israeli pilots, using the Russian jet as a shield, put it under the attack of Syria's air defenses, and the Il-20 was shot down by an S-200 missile. Fifteen Russian servicemen were killed.
The Defense Ministry said Israeli aircraft deliberately created a dangerous situation in Latakia. Israel had not warned the command of the Russian group of troops in Syria about the planned operation in the area. The Russian military said it regards Israel's provocative actions as hostile and reserves the right to a proper response.
