#1 Syria downed Russia's plane because Israeli F-16s used it as cover —
Russian top brass
The bombing raid was not far from France’s frigate The Auvergne
September 18, 11:12 UTC+3
http://tass.com/defense/1022031

MOSCOW, September 18. /TASS/. A Russian military Ilyushin-20 aircraft was
shot down by Syria’s air defense over the Mediterranean Sea because Israel’s
F-16 fighters used it as cover, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor
Konashenkov told the media on Tuesday.

"By using the Russian plane as cover the Israeli air pilots made it
vulnerable to Syrian air defense fire. As a result, the Ilyushin-20, its
reflective surface being far greater than that of the F-16, was downed by a
missile launched with the S-200 system," Konashenkov said.

Konashenkov said four F-16s from the Israeli Air Force carried out a strike
with guided air missles against Syrian facilities in the area of Latakia at
about 22:00 on September 17. The fighters approached the target from the
Mediterranean at a low altitude.
The Israeli planes deliberately created a dangerous situation for surface
ships and aircraft in that area, he stated.

"The bombing raid was near the French frigate The Auvergne and in close
proximity to the Ilyushin-20 plane from Russia’s Aerospace Force that was
about to land," Konashenkov said.

He pointed out that the Israeli command centers and the F-16s’ pilots "could
not but see the Russian plane, which was approaching the runway from an
altitude of five kilometers."

"Nevertheless they deliberately staged this provocation," he stressed.

According to Konashenkov, Israel had issued no warning to the command of the
Russian military group in Syria of the forthcoming operation.

"A hotline warning was received less than one minute before the strike,
which left no chance for getting the Russian plane to safety," he added.


#2 Russian military vow retaliation against Israeli hostile steps following
jet’s crash
The general said a search and rescue operation was underway near the Il-20
jet’s crash site
September 18, 12:32 UTC+3
http://tass.com/world/1022036

MOSCOW, September 18. /TASS/. Moscow views Israeli steps, which led to the
downing of Russian military jet Il-20 over the Mediterranean Sea, as hostile
and reserves the right to retaliate, Defense Ministry Spokesman Maj.-Gen.
Igor Konashenkov said on Tuesday.

"We view these provocative steps by Israel as hostile. Due to the Israeli
military’s irresponsible actions 15 Russian servicemen were killed. This is
absolutely against the spirit of the Russian-Israeli partnership,"
Konashenkov said.

"We reserve the right to take adequate tit-for-tat steps," he stressed.

The general said a search and rescue operation was underway near the Il-20
jet’s crash site.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, on September 17 at about 23:00
Moscow time (GMT + 3) contact was lost with the crew of a Russian Il-20
plane over Syria’s Mediterranean Sea coast that was returning to the Hmeymim
airbase. The ministry said that the Il-20 jet vanished off the radars during
the attack of four Israeli F-16 planes on Syrian facilities in the Latakia
Governorate.

#3 Kremlin comments on Russian military plane incident in Syria
Peskov refrained from making any comments or speculations regarding the
likely effects on Russia’s relations with Israel
September 18, 12:34 UTC+3
http://tass.com/politics/1022051

MOSCOW, September 18. /TASS/. The Kremlin promises to analyze the shooting
down of Russia’s Ilyushin-20 plane and expresses concern, Russian
presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told the media.

"As for our plane that has been shot down, I can only say that the Kremlin
is extremely worried in connection with this incident," Peskov told the
media.

He added that "the full evaluation of the incident is available in the
Defense Ministry’s statement."

Peskov refrained from any comments or speculations regarding the likely
effects on Russia’s relations with Israel.

"The situation is being analyzed. The first comments have been offered in
the Defense Ministry’s statement. The evaluation was unequivocal and the
actions were described as provocative," Peskov said. "There is no need for
adding anything to the clear statement made by our Defense Ministry.
Everything else will follow later."

Asked if there were any plans for President Vladimir Putin’s telephone
conversation with the Israeli leadership, Peskov said he had "nothing to add
to what I’ve already said about the presidential timetable."

Russian Defense Ministry's statement

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told the media on
Tuesday that at about 22:00 on September 17 four Israeli F-16 fighter jets
attacked Syrian facilities in the area of Latakia, Syria with guided bombs.
The planes approached the targets from the Mediterranean at a low altitude.

"The Israeli jets used the Russian plane as a cover, thus exposing it to
Syrian air defense fire. As a result, the Ilyushin-20, its reflective
surface being far greater than that of Ilyushin-20, was shot down by a
missile launched with the S-200 system."

"We regard these provocative actions by Israel as hostile," Konashenkov
said. "As a result of irresponsible actions by the Israeli military 15
Russian military servicemen were killed. This by no means agrees with the
spirit of Russian-Israeli partnership. We reserve the right to a
proportionate response," he added.

#4 Russian defense minister blames Israel for downing military plane over
Mediterranean
According to the Russian defense minister, the irresponsible actions by the
Israeli Air Force led to a tragedy, which claimed the lives of 15 Russian
military personnel
September 18, 12:40 UTC+3
http://tass.com/world/1022058

MOSCOW, September 18. /TASS/. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has
held a telephone call with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman,
stating that Israel is solely to blame for the downing of Russia’s Ilyushin
Il-20 aircraft over the Mediterranean Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said
on Tuesday.

"The responsibility for the downing of the Russian aircraft and the death of
its crew lies solely with Israel. The Russian Defense Ministry used various
communication channels on numerous occasions to urge Israel to refrain from
conducting airstrikes in Syria, which threaten the security of Russian
military personnel," Shoigu said.

According to the Russian defense minister, the irresponsible actions by the
Israeli Air Force led to a tragedy, which claimed the lives of 15 Russian
military personnel, "despite all existing agreements on preventing dangerous
incidents."

"The Russian military command [in Syria] had been notified [of the attack]
one minute before the Israeli F-16 jets conducted airstrikes," Shoigu
pointed out.
"The Israeli Defense Ministry’s actions are not in the spirit of
Russian-Israeli partnership so we reserve the right to take retaliatory
steps," the Russian defense chief stressed.

Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov told
reporters earlier on Tuesday that around 22:00 Moscow time (19:00 GMT) on
September 17, 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
they target run at a low altitude from the Mediterranean Sea. "Using the
Russian aircraft as a cover, Israeli pilots put it in the line of the Syrian
air defense’s fire. As a result, the Il-20 plane, which has a far wider
effective reflective area compared to the F-16 jets, was downed by a missile
launched from an S-200 complex," he added.

"We consider Israel’s provocative actions as hostile," Konashenkov said.

The incident killed 15 Russian military personnel.
=====