Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Thursday that he understood Russia's accusations against Israel in connection to the incident with the Russian jet, which was shot down in Syria, but said he still believed that it was the Syrian army that bore the responsibility for the tragic episode.
TEL AVIV (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 20th September, 2018) Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Thursday that he understood Russia's accusations against Israel in connection to the incident with the Russian jet, which was shot down in Syria, but said he still believed that it was the Syrian army that bore the responsibility for the tragic episode.
The Russian Hmeimim airbase lost contact with the crew of 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 then said that the Israeli military deliberately created a dangerous situation by using the Russian aircraft as a shield against Syrian air defense systems. As a result, the Il-20 jet was downed by a missile launched by Syria's S-200 air defense system. The incident claimed the lives of 15 Russian officers.
"We have also extended condolences with regard to the deaths of 15 officers of the Russian army who were on board that jet shot down by the Syrians. I talked to Russian Defense Minister [Sergei Shoigu]. Of course, their position is comprehensible now ... I agree that it was a tragic accident, but it is the army of [Syrian President Bashar] Assad to be blamed for it," Lieberman told the Israeli Galei Tzahal radio station.
The Israeli defense minister added that Israel had no alternative but to continue its operations in Syria in order to counter Iran's military presence in the country and prevent the deliveries of modern arms to the Lebanese Hezbollah movement.
At the same time, the minister has not answered a question about Israel's possible response in case Russia changed the existing agreements on coordination of actions in Syria and took measures restricting Israel's freedom of action in Syria's air space in response to the Il-20 incident.
An Israeli military delegation headed by Israeli Air Force Commander Amikam Norkin is expected to deliver the findings of its own investigation into the incident as part of its visit to Moscow later on Thursday.
Following the Il-20 crash, the Russian military has said it regards Israel's provocative actions as hostile and reserves the right to a proper response. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in turn, pledged to share all information on the incident with Moscow. The IDF expressed regret over the deaths of the Russian troops and put the blame on Damascus and Tehran.
