Russia Details Il-20 Downing: Israel Violated Accord, Provided Late Warning

Russia - Ekhbary News Agency

Russia Details Il-20 Downing: Israel Violated Accord, Provided Late Warning

Moscow - In a move aimed at clarifying facts and presenting an unambiguous official account, Russia's Ministry of Defense released detailed and comprehensive information on September 23 regarding the circumstances of the Il-20 military transport aircraft crash near the Syrian coast. Moscow affirmed that investigations, based on radar data and objective monitoring systems, clearly indicate Israel's indirect responsibility for the tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of 15 Russian military personnel.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, precise minute-by-minute data provided by radar systems offered a clear picture of the events unfolding in Syrian airspace on September 17. This data revealed that Israeli fighter jets were conducting strikes in the vicinity of the incident area concurrently with the Russian aircraft's flight. This timing, Moscow contends, led to the catastrophe.

The crux of the Russian narrative is Israel's breach of bilateral agreements between Moscow and Tel Aviv, designed to prevent unfortunate incidents in Syrian airspace. These agreements stipulate that the Russian side must be notified in advance of any Israeli aerial operations in proximity to Russian forces or their flight paths. In the Il-20 incident, the Russian Ministry of Defense emphasized that Israel failed to adhere to this protocol, with notification being provided only after it was too late and the Russian aircraft was already endangered.

Major General Igor Konashenkov, the official spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Defense, stated in press briefings that Israel notified Russia of strikes on targets in Syria merely one minute before the attacks commenced. He explained that this extremely late warning offered no opportunity for Russian pilots to maneuver the Il-20 out of the danger zone. Konashenkov added that the Israeli aircraft, engaged in a "bold operation," utilized the Russian aircraft as cover, inadvertently making it an easy target for Syrian air defense systems.

Conversely, Tel Aviv blamed Damascus and Hezbollah for the aircraft's downing, claiming Syrian air defense systems fired the missiles that struck the Russian plane. Israel denied any direct responsibility for the incident, asserting its aircraft had departed the area before the Russian plane was shot down. However, the Russian data released, including radar recordings and imagery, supports Moscow's account and indicates the presence of Israeli aircraft in the area at the time of the incident.

Russia maintains that Syrian air defense systems, supplied by Russia, operate under specific protocols and were unable to distinguish between enemy and friendly aircraft amidst the complex conditions created by Israeli operations. Moscow pointed out that Israel was aware of the Russian aircraft's presence in the airspace, and its delayed notification suggested a potential disregard for the lives of the Russian crew.

While Russia has not directly accused Israel of intentionally shooting down the aircraft, it holds Tel Aviv responsible for the incident due to the violation of agreements and the provision of insufficient information. The incident has strained relations between the two countries and raised questions about military coordination mechanisms in a region experiencing multifaceted military operations. Russia underscores the necessity of strict adherence to established agreements to ensure the safety of Russian forces and prevent the recurrence of such tragic events.

The Il-20 is an advanced electronic reconnaissance aircraft with significant intelligence-gathering capabilities. Its loss represented a substantial blow to Russian forces in Syria. Moscow asserts that the release of these details is intended to maintain transparency and refute any misleading information that may circulate regarding the incident.

Ekhbary News Agency