A Russian military aircraft vanished from radar as it flew over Syria on Monday, announced the Russian defense ministry on Tuesday. The disappearance coincided with French and Israeli strikes against regime targets.
The defense ministry in Moscow said the aircraft was returning to the Russian-run Hmeimim airbase in Latakia province when, at about 11:00 p.m. Moscow time (20:00 GMT) on Monday, it disappeared from radar screens.
"Connection has been lost with the crew of a Russian Il-20 plane over the Mediterranean Sea 35 kilometers from the Syrian coast as it was returning to the Hmeimim airbase," the ministry said.
The fate of the military personnel is "unknown," the ministry said in a statement which was carried by Russian news agencies. A search for the plane was underway.
“The trace of the Il-20 on flight control radars disappeared during an attack by four Israeli F-16 jets on Syrian facilities in Latakia province,” the statement was quoted as saying.
“At the same time Russian air control radar systems detected rocket launches from the French frigate Auvergne which was located in that region.”
"The French army denies any involvement in this attack," a French army spokesman said.
A US official said Washington believed the Il-20, which is used for electronic reconnaissance, was inadvertently shot down by anti-aircraft artillery operated by Moscow’s ally, the Syrian regime.
Fourteen people were on board the plane.
Around the time the plane disappeared, Latakia city came under attack from “enemy missiles”, and missile defense batteries responded, Syrian regime media reported.
An Israeli military spokeswoman when asked about both the reported Israeli strike and the Russian plane said: "We don't comment on foreign reports."
A Pentagon spokesman said the United States was not involved and declined to provide further details.
"The missiles were not fired by the US military and we have nothing further at this time," he said.
Multiple countries have military operations underway around Syria, with forces on the ground or launching strikes from the air or from ships in the Mediterranean.
In some cases, those countries are backing opposing sides in the Syrian conflict.
Hotlines are in place for those countries to share operational information on their deployments, but diplomats and military planners say there is still a high risk of one state inadvertently striking another country’s forces.
