DAMASCUS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 20th September, 2018) Syrian President Bashar Assad has expressed condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the crash of an Il-20 military aircraft and the death of the Russian military personnel, stressing that the tragedy was the result of Israel's "arrogance", state-run SANA news agency reported on Wednesday.
"I express my sincere condolences on behalf of the Syrian people in connection with the crash of the Russian Il-20 military aircraft in the Mediterranean Sea, which led to the death of Russian military heroes who performed the valiant task of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the fight against terrorism in Syria," Assad said in a telegram to Putin as quoted by SANA.
"This sad incident is the result of the arrogance and reckless violence of Israel, which constantly uses the dirtiest methods to achieve its sinister goals and to carry out aggression in the region," Assad stressed.
According to SANA, Assad also expressed hope that such tragedies would not prevent Russia and Syria from joining efforts in the fight against terrorism.
The Russian Hmeimim airbase had lost contact with the Russian Il-20 military aircraft late on Monday during the attack of four Israeli F-16 aircraft on Syrian targets in the province of Latakia. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that the Israeli military deliberately created a dangerous situation by using the Russian aircraft as a shield against Syrian air defense systems.
