Follow-up diary to – Syrian Civil War – Endgame In Idlib?
Israelis have been left out of the loop by the Americans in the war effort in Syria. The diplomatic effort is now in the hands of three major players Turkey, Russia and Iran.
Here what happened in the last 24 hours above Latakia …
A Russian military Ilyushin Il-20M Coot-A spyplane has been reported as “down” at approximately 2300 local time (2000 GMT) on Monday Sept. 17, in the Mediterranean Sea off the Syrian coast. There were 14 crewmembers on board the aircraft according to multiple reports.
Continued below the fold …
Russian government media outlet TASS posted that, “On September 17, at about 11:00 Moscow time, the connection with the crew of the Russian Il-20 aircraft was lost over the Mediterranean Sea when the plane was returning to the airbase of Khmeimim, 35 kilometers from the coast of Syria.”
The report in Russian media released early September 18 in U.S. time zones, went on to say, “The ministry specified that the mark of Il-20 went off the radars disappeared during the attack of four Israeli F-16 aircraft on Syrian targets in the province of Latakia.”
In the United States, media outlet CNN immediately attributed the loss of the Russian surveillance and control aircraft to the Syrians, reporting that, “A Russian maritime patrol aircraft with multiple personnel on board was inadvertently shot down by Syrian regime anti-aircraft artillery on Monday after the Syrians came under attack by Israeli missiles, according to a US official with knowledge of the incident.”
The incident happened during an Israeli air strike in Syria being conducted by four F-16s according to CNN and other media outlets. The alleged Israeli strikes were reported to have hit multiple targets in the Syrian province of Latakia.
Confusion surrounds the causes of the loss. U.S. military says they believe the aircraft was shot down by Syrian Air Defense. Russians mention the proximity of Israeli F-16 Jets and French frigate in the area at the time of the incident.
Syria: Russian Black Sea Fleet tug 'Prof. Nikolay Muru' has left Tartus harbor heading for Latakia. Likely participating in a search & rescue mission for the downed Russian Il-20 aircraft. pic.twitter.com/NWt8G5eZLT
— Hans de Vreij (@hdevreij) September 18, 2018
The Russian MOD squarely puts blame on the Israeli Defense Forces for using de Russian IL20 plane as decoy in their attack on the Latakia area. There will be verbal warfare in the coming hours between Israel’s PM Netanyahu (deep litigation trouble) and Russia’s president Putin. The mutual understanding between the two nations on major issues as the Ukraine will have ended for now. The Israelis have managed to get the attention of the world once again.
○ Russia ‘reserves right to respond’ after saying Israel’s actions led to downing of Il-20 by Syria | RT |
○ Russia to Israel: ‘You are to blame for downing of Il-20 and death of crew’ | RT |
○ Russia blasts Israel’s ‘deliberate provocation’ after Syria attack | Ynet News |
[Update-1] Netanyahu’s Warning to Putin
PM Netanyahu playing with fire as the close relationship is based on mutual respect and a direct warning by president Putin NOT to endanger the lives of Russian military by IAF strikes on Syria and depots of suspected Iranian arms for Hezbollah.
No Breaking News coverage in Western television media .. Russia Today has a LIVE coverage of the incident and the implications. The Israelis are starting to react as the Ambassador to Moscow has been summoned by Russia’s FM.
In preliminary statements the Israelis say they are sorry for Russian lives lost but deflect blame on Syria and its allies Hezbollah and Iran. This is unacceptable for Russia as it was a deliberate act to use the cove of an incoming Russian military aircraft on a path to land at Hmeimim military base in Latakia.
Israel expresses sorrow for the death of the aircrew members of the Russian plane that was downed tonight due to Syrian anti-aircraft fire.
Israel holds the Assad regime, whose military shot down the Russian plane, fully responsible for this incident.— Israel Defense Forces (@IDFSpokesperson) September 18, 2018
○ ANALYSIS: What Russia’s Latakia condemnation means for Israel | Jerusalem Post |
○ Israel rejects Moscow accusations in downing of Russian plane over Syria | Middle East Eye |
[END OF UPDATE]
Related reading …
○ Dutch Gov’t Admits Support for Salafist Jihadists in Syria
○ MPs deliver damning verdict on David Cameron’s Libya intervention | The Guardian – Sept. 2016 |
○ Norwegian Air Force left decisions to others in Libya | ScienceNordic – 2013 |
Result of Libyan intervention was a stepping stone to send major supplies of arms, munitions and jihadists to northern Syria moving through the border with Turkey. Thanks to funding by Qatar, the Muslim Brotherhood nation loved so by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Southern front was formed inside Jordan with training ground for fighters under supervision of British and American Special Forces. The third wave came from Al Qaeda out of Iraq’s Anbar province seeking revenge for US invasion of 2003. The goal was to establish a caliphate in the Levant – ISIL – ISIS – Islamic State force of cutthroats and pure criminals. Saudi Arabian prince Bandar took command of the jihadists going into Syria as he had done before with the Mujahideen in the Afghan War against the Soviets. Prince Bandar opened death row in KSA and send these men into Syria with the opportunity to go to paradise by becoming a martyr. Nice ally of the United States and Israel!
My earlier diaries …
○ House of Saud – US Alliance Has Broken the Middle East
○ Christian Zionists Collude with Alt-right Trump
○ New Fascist Pariah States America and Israel Lashing Out
