Israel holds Assad, Iran responsible for downing Russian plane in Syria

"During the strike against the target in Latakia, the Russian plane that was then hit was not within the area of the operation," an Israeli military statement said, in Israel's first reaction to the incident.

It added that "when the Syrian army launched the missiles that hit the Russian plane, (Israeli) jets were already within Israeli airspace".

Israel's military expressed "sorrow" for the deaths of the Russian crew members, but blamed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Iran for the incident.

"Israel holds the Assad regime, whose military shot down the Russian plane, fully responsible for this incident. Israel also holds Iran and the Hizballah terror organisation accountable for this unfortunate incident."

The military said the Israeli raid late Monday targeted a Syrian military facility where weapons manufacturing systems were "about to be transferred on behalf of Iran" to Lebanese group Hizballah.

Earlier, Moscow summoned the Israeli ambassador after blaming the Israeli air force for the Russian plane being downed over Syria.

"The Israeli ambassador has been summoned to the foreign ministry over the situation," a ministry representative told AFP.

The Israeli foreign ministry has "nothing to say on the issue", a spokesman said. 

The Russian Il-20 warplane with 15 people on board was shot down by the Syrian air defence late Monday.

Russia's defence ministry said "full blame" rests with the Israeli aircraft which carried out strikes on Syria's Latakia province and "used the Russian plane as a cover."

Russia Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed the matter with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman on Tuesday, warning that Moscow could retaliate with unspecified "measures."