Russia announced one of its military aircraft, with 14 people on board, disappeared from radar near Syria at the same time Israeli and French forces were carrying out air strikes on targets in the war-torn country late on Monday night.
The Russian defence ministry announced early on Tuesday that the IL-20 aircraft, used for electronic surveillance, was flying over the Mediterranean Sea about 35km from the Syrian coast when it disappeared. The Russian government added that the IL-20's radar trace disappeared when four Israeli F-16 fighter jets were attacking targets in Latakia province in Syria.
The Russian government also claimed that its radars detected missiles being launched from the Auvergne, a frigate of the French Navy, which was in the region. Frigates like Auvergne can carry land-attack cruise missiles and have previously struck targets in Syria.
The US government contradicted the Russian claims, with an official stating Washington believed the IL-20 was shot down inadvertently by Syrian air defences. The Russian government announced a rescue operation was launched to find the missing aircraft.
While major powers such as Israel, the US and Russia have created 'hotlines' to share details of their operations in Syria, there have been concerns their military forces may strike each other inadvertently.
In 2015, after Russia started its military involvement in Syria, a Russian SU-24 strike aircraft was shot down by a Turkish fighter near the Syrian-Turkish border.
(With agency inputs)
