Russia angry with Israel

MOSCOW: Russia yesterday 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 Il20 reconnaissance aircraft, with 15 Russian service personnel on board, was brought down by antiaircraft batteries of Moscow’s ally, Syria, in a friendly fire incident.

The ministry said it held Israel responsible because, at the time of the incident, Israeli fighter jets were mounting air attacks on Syrian targets and had only given Moscow one minute’s warning, putting the Russian aircraft in danger of being caught in the crossfire.

‘‘We view the actions of the Israeli military as hostile,’’ Russian Defence Ministry spokes man Igor Konashenkov said.

‘‘As a result of the irresponsible actions of the Israeli military, 15 Russian service personnel perished.’’

Israel’s military declined to comment, as did the prime minister’s office and the Foreign Ministry.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke to his Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Lieberman, and told him Moscow held Israel wholly responsible for the shooting down of the plane, Russian news agencies said. The Israeli Defence Ministry confirmed the call.

Moscow said its plane disappeared from radar screens approaching Hmeymim air base in western Syria yesterday just as Israeli jets and French naval vessels were mounting air strikes on targets in the same area of Syria.