JERUSALEM—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the telephone on Tuesday, following Monday’s incident which saw Syrian missile defense systems shoot down a Russian military plane carrying 15 soldiers, shortly after the Israeli Air Force carried out an airstrike against an Iranian munitions base in Latakia.
Netanyahu expressed his regret over the loss of the 15 Russian soldiers, but insisted that the blame rests with Syria, offering Israel’s full cooperation to Russia in investigating the incident.
Moscow has blamed Israel for the incident, claiming that they were not briefed in time about the planned strike. Russia’s Foreign Ministry hasq requested that Israel open another investigation into Monday’s incident.
A report by the Interfax news agency said Moscow wants “further inquiries and explanations” from Israel. Initially, Russia’s Defense Ministry blamed the incident on Israel, but Russian President Vladirmir Putin later sought to defuse tensions, pointing at “a chain of tragic accidental circumstances.”
A team of high level Israeli military officers, led by the chief of Israel’s Air Force, Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, travelled to Moscow on Thursday for talks with Russian counterparts. The delegation reportedly has evidence concerning the events.