Russian Ambassador Antonov Thanks US Nationals For Sharing Moscow's Grief Over Il-20 Crash

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st September, 2018) Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov expressed gratitude to the US citizens who shared Russia's bereavement over the deadly Il-20 military aircraft crash in the Mediterranean off the Syrian coast.

"We would like to thank all Americans who shared with us the grief of the loss of Il-20 with Russian officers in Syria on September 17. They gave their lives, protecting the world from terrorism," Antonov told reporters on Thursday.

The Russian Hmeimim airbase lost contact with the Il-20 military aircraft late on Monday during the attack of four Israeli F-16 aircraft on Syrian targets in the Syrian western Latakia province.

All 15 servicemen on board the plane were killed in the crash.

The Russian Defense Ministry accused the Israeli forces of the deadly incident, pointing out that the Israeli military deliberately created a dangerous situation by using the Russian aircraft as a shield against Syrian air defense systems.

US officials, including President Donald Trump and State Secretary Mike Pompeo, expressed sorrow over the plane crash.