Global Geopolitical Series: Russia and Israel in diplomatic feud over downed Russian military jet

A major diplomatic feud has broken out between Russia and Israel over Israel’s latest attacks on Syrian city of Latakia, which is home to the biggest Russian air base in the region, which led to a chain of events that finally resulted in the downing of a Russian military Jet being shot down by Syrian S-200 surface to air missiles.

According to Russia, Israel has used the Russian jet IL-20 plane as a cover for their attack and knowingly. On Monday, around 19:00 GMT, four Israeli Air Force F-16 fighter jets had carried a guided aerial bomb attack on Syrian targets near the city of Latakia. They started their target run at a low altitude from the Mediterranean Sea. A French Frigate, as well as a Russian IL-20 plane, was operating in the region. The Syrian F-16s allegedly used the Russian IL-20 plane, which has far wider reflective area compared to F-16s were shot down by Syrian anti-aircraft fire from the S-200 missile defense system. There was reportedly 14 military personnel on board of IL-20.

Russia added that Israel, which according to its own admission conducted hundreds of air raids in Syrian over the past year or so didn’t warn Russia of any operation in the region. Russia added that it reserves the right to retaliate.

Israel, on the other hand, expressed sorrow over the incident and put the blame fully on the Syrian regime, “Israel expresses sorrow for the death of the aircrew members of the Russian plane that was downed tonight due to Syrian anti-aircraft fire. Israel holds the Assad regime, whose military shot down the Russian plane, fully responsible for this incident. Israel also holds Iran and the Hezbollah terror organization accountable for this unfortunate incident….. Overnight, IDF fighter jets targeted a facility of the Syrian Armed Forces from which systems to manufacture accurate and lethal weapons were about to be transferred on behalf of Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon. These weapons were meant to attack Israel and posed an intolerable threat against it. The IDF and the Russian army have a deconfliction system, which was agreed upon by the states' leaders and has proven itself many times over recent years. This system was in use tonight as well.

An initial inquiry of the incident suggests:

1. Extensive and inaccurate Syrian anti-aircraft (Surface to Air missile) fire caused the Russian plane to be hit and downed.
2. When the Syrian Army launched the missiles that hit the Russian plane, IAF jets were already within Israeli airspace.
3. During the strike against the target in Latakia, the Russian plane that was then hit was not within the area of the operation.  
4. The Syrian anti-air batteries fired indiscriminately and from what we understand, did not bother to ensure that no Russian planes were in the air.

Israel will share all the relevant information with the Russian Government to review the incident and to confirm the facts in this inquiry.”