Kremlin Yet To Decide On Israel Ties After Plane Crash In Syria - Spokesman

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st September, 2018) The Russian president's spokesman said Friday that President Vladimir Putin had been briefed on what an Israeli military delegation had to share with the Russian Defense Ministry on the downing of its jet in Syria, but stressed a decision on the Kremlin's next step was premature.

"It is too early to ask about that. You should ask the Defense Ministry," Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow after a query about the Russian government's future relationship with Israel.

The press conference followed a visit to Moscow on Thursday by an Israeli military delegation led by Air Force chief Amikam Norkin who shared with Russian military officials his findings about this Monday's air disaster.

Peskov confirmed that Putin was "aware of the information" presented, but added this was "special data," and only military experts were capable of saying whether it was satisfactory.

Ties between Russia and Israel soured after a Russian Il-20 military aircraft was lost in western Syria during an air raid by four Israeli fighter jets on Syrian targets. Russia's Defense Ministry later said that Israeli F-16s deliberately put its plane under the attack of Syria's air defenses. Fifteen Russian servicemen were killed.