Israel says it did not use Russian plane Syria shot down as cover

Israel's military on Tuesday disputed Russia's assertion that it used one of its aircraft as cover while it carried out a strike in Syria, leading to it accidentally being shot down.

"During the strike against the target in Latakia, the Russian plane that was then hit was not within the area of the operation," a military statement said.

It added that "when the Syrian army launched the missiles that hit the Russian plane, (Israeli) jets were already within Israeli airspace."

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Expressing "sorrow"over the deaths of the crew membersin the Russian military aircraft, Israeli military alsoblamed the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Iran for the incident.

"Israel expresses sorrow for the deaths of the aircrew members of the Russian plane that was downed tonight due to Syrian anti-aircraft fire," a military statement said in Israel's first reaction to the incident.

"Israel holds the Assad regime, whose military shot down the Russian plane, fully responsible for this incident. Israel also holds Iran and the Hezbollah terror organisation accountable for this unfortunate incident."

Russia has accused Israel of indirectly causing a Russian military plane to be shot down near Syria's Mediterranean coast, and threatened to retaliate against Israel for what it described as a hostile act.

Russia's defence ministry said the Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft, with 15 Russian service personnel on board, was brought down by anti-aircraft batteries of Moscow's ally, Syria, in a friendly fire incident.

But the ministry said it held Israel responsible because, at the time of the incident, Israeli fighter jets were mounting air attacks on Syria targets and had only given Moscow one minute's warning, putting the Russian aircraft in danger of being caught in the cross-fire.

"We view the actions of the Israeli military as hostile," Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told Russian state television. "As a result of the irresponsible actions of the Israeli military, 15 Russian service personnel perished."

Following the strike, Russia also summoned the Israeli ambassador to Moscow.

"The Israeli ambassador has been summoned to the foreign ministry over the situation," a representative of the ministry's press service told AFP.

(With inputs from agencies)