Assad says Israel deliberately caused regime to down Russian plane

In an interview with an Omani newspaper, Assad says Damascus and Moscow agree the friendly fire incident that killed 15 Russian military personnel was not an accident.

“Our leadership is united with the Russians, and it is clear that the incident is deliberate. The Russian media is transparent and has managed to expose the lies of some of the claims,” he says, according to the Ynet news site.

Moscow has already pinned responsibility for the downing on Israel, saying its fighter jet used the larger Russian one as cover, an allegation Israel disputes.

Russia subsequently upgraded Assad air defenses with the delivery of the advanced S-300 system, which Damascus insisted would make Israel “think carefully” before carrying out further air raids.

On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel and Russia need to improve their military cooperation in Syria.