Israeli envoy summoned by Russia in wake of Syria strike

Israel’s envoy to Moscow was summoned by the Russian foreign ministry Tuesday regarding an airstrike the previous day on a base in Syria attributed to Israel.

Gary Koren was set to meet with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, according to the Interfax news agency.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the meeting was part of regular talks between the countries.

“Ongoing discussions are constantly held with the Russians and therefore the ambassador will today meet with Deputy Minister Bogdanov,” the Foreign Ministry said.

The target of the reported airstrike was the Tiyas air base — also known as the T-4 air base — outside Palmyra in central Syria. Israel has previously carried out at least one explicitly acknowledged attack on the base, which it said was home to an Iranian drone program.

The Tiyas, or T-4, Air Base, outside of the Syrian city of Palmyra, which Israel claims is being operated by Iran and its Quds Force. (Screen capture/Wikimapia)

Iranian media reported Tuesday that seven Iranian military officials were killed in the strike. One those killed was named Monday as a colonel in the air force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Israel and Russia have coordinated their military efforts in Syria in recent years in order to avoid friction and accidental conflict.

Israeli officials do not generally discuss the full extent of that coordination, but they stress that the Israeli military does not seek Russian permission before carrying out operations.

Despite this, the Kremlin angrily protested on Monday that it had not been informed in advance of the strike.

Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, told reporters that Israel had not spoken to Moscow ahead of the airstrike even though Russian military advisers could have been present at the base, which he described as “a cause for concern for us.”

A pair of US officials, however, told NBC News the US was informed of the reported Israeli strike in advance.

Israel has refused to comment on the attack, for which it has been blamed by Russia, Syria and Iran.

Koren met with Bogdanov in late March.

On March 27 Deputy Foreign Minister #Bogdanov received Israeli Ambassador to Russia @GaryKoren .The officials discussed situation in the #MiddleEast w/ emphasis on #Syria & status of Palestinian-Israeli peace process+development of ???????????????? cooperation???? https://t.co/IO0kO1c16h pic.twitter.com/NzWXVjOp6S

Advertisement

— Russia ???????? in Israel (@israel_mid_ru) March 29, 2018

Russia also summoned Koren last year after a reported Israeli strike in Syria that nearly hit Russian troops in the area. Syria’s ambassador to the UN later said that Russia had changed its policy and no longer granted Israel freedom of action over Syrian skies.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently denied reports Moscow had told Israel to end airstrikes in Syria, vowing that Israel would continue attacking weapons convoys bound for the Lebanon-based Hezbollah terror group.