Russian Defense Ministry's Statement On Il-20 Downing Justified, Balanced - Lawmaker
Faizan Hashmi Published September 23, 2018 | 06:54 PM
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd September, 2018) The Russian Defense Ministry's Sunday statement putting all the blame for the downing of Russia's Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft in Syria on the Israeli Air Force is justified and balanced, a senior Russian lawmaker, Alexander Sherin, told Sputnik.
"I completely trust the opinion of the Russian Defense Ministry. Any measures it will take should be supported both by the public and the media ... The Defense Ministry makes very, very balanced final decisions [on anything]. It would be wrong to fault the ministry for taking impulsive, rash acts. Therefore, if the Defense Ministry made such statement [on Israeli responsibility], then it had good reason for this, which can not always be officially announced," Sherin, first deputy chairman of the Russian parliament's lower house's defense committee, said.
The parliamentarian noted that Israel should treat Russia as a partner.
"If [Israel] sees that Russia is engaged in putting things in order in Syria, then there is no need to heat up the situation," he explained.
The Russian Il-20 military aircraft, which was 22 miles off the Syrian coast, was shot down on September 17, while returning to the Hmeimim airbase.
At the same time, four Israeli F-16 aircraft were bombing Syrian targets in the province of Latakia. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Israel notified Russia of the airstrikes only a minute before their start and provided misleading information concerning the area of the attack and the location of Israeli F-16 jets. The ministry said that the Israeli pilots used the Russian aircraft as a shield against Syrian air defense systems. As a result, the Il-20 jet was downed by a missile launched by Syria's S-200 air defense system at 10:03 p.m. local time (19:03 GMT). The incident claimed the lives of 15 Russian servicemen.
The Russian Defense Ministry placed the blame for the catastrophe on the Israeli Air Force and on those who had made the decision to carry out the airstrike. According to the ministry's data, the Russian side informed Israel of the tragedy at 10:29 p.m. local time, asking to call off F-16 fighter jets from the area of the incident, however, they continued to remain there until 10:40 p.m., as radars showed. It was not until 10:53 p.m that the Israeli side informed that its jets had left the area, meaning that a total of 50 minutes had passed since the Russian aircraft was hit by a missile.
Recent Stories
DP World ILT20 Season 3 to begin from 11 January 2025
Sharjah Public Library unveils interactive arts and crafts journey at SCRF 2024
"Wonder Walks” show makes an enthralling debut at SCRF 2024
Remarkable Young Minds Light up the Stage at Sharjah Children’s Reading
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 12 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 12 May 2024
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's visit schedule being discussed
Govt decides to procurement wheat from farmers
Deputy PM to pay 4-day visit to China from Monday
Pakistan seeks foreign investments in diverse sectors: PM
Digital transformation key priority for govt to improve tax collection: Aurangze ..
President-designate of COP29 for collective efforts to deal with climate change ..
More Stories From World
-
34 dead in Indonesia floods, 16 missing
12 minutes ago -
34 dead in Indonesia floods, 16 missing
32 minutes ago -
First patient to get gene-edited pig kidney transplant dies: hospital
32 minutes ago -
Rescuers struggle to reach Afghanistan flood-hit areas
32 minutes ago -
Raza 72 not out guides Zimbabwe to consolation win over Bangladesh
32 minutes ago -
Britain's FM rejects Rafah offensive without 'clear plan' to save lives
2 hours ago
-
Sharjah Public Library unveils interactive arts and crafts journey at SCRF 2024
2 hours ago -
"Wonder Walks” show makes an enthralling debut at SCRF 2024
2 hours ago -
Remarkable Young Minds Light up the Stage at Sharjah Children’s Reading
2 hours ago -
Spain PM's Socialists eye power grab in Catalan vote
2 hours ago -
'Worse than Covid': UK gig venues sing the Blues
2 hours ago -
Raza 72 not out guides Zimbabwe to consolation win over Bangladesh
2 hours ago