On the evening of September 17, at about 23-00 Moscow time, 35 kilometers from the coast of Syria, a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft with 14 servicemen on board disappeared from the radar.
This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
It is clarified that communication with the pilots was lost during an attack by four Israeli F-16 aircraft in the Syrian province of Latakia. Russian airspace radars also detected missile launches from the French frigate Auvergne, which was in the area.
At the same time, the American television channel CNN, citing a high-ranking source, claims that the Russian plane was allegedly shot down by Syrian air defense systems while repelling an attack.
At the same time, Israel refused to comment, RIA Novosti reports.
“We do not comment on reports from abroad,” an employee of the press service of the Israeli Defense Forces told the agency, taking a break before consulting with her superiors.
Currently, the command of the Russian Khmeimim airbase has organized a search and rescue operation.