Russian Foreign Ministry summons Israeli envoy over Syria base strike
Israel's Ambassador to Moscow Gary Koren to hold consultations with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov; Israeli Foreign Ministry confirms meeting, but qualifies 'We have ongoing conversations with the Russians all the time.'
The Russian Foreign Ministry has reportedly summoned Israel's Ambassador to Moscow Gary Koren for consultation following the attack on the T-4 airbase in Syria,
the Arabic-language Sputnik news website reported on Tuesday.
The Israeli Embassy in Moscow declined comment, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem said "We have ongoing conversations with the Russians all the time, and the ambassador will indeed meet with Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov today."
Ambassador Gary Koren presenting his credentials to Russian President Putin (Photo: Israel's Embassy in Russia)
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitor, said at least 14 people were killed in the raid, some with foreign nationalities.
Russia, the US, Syria and Iran have all accused Israel of carrying out the attack on the Tiyas, or T-4, air base near Homs—something that Israel has not confirmed or denied. At least four Iranian "military advisers" were killed in the attack, with the private Tasnim news agency reporting seven dead.
The attack led to an unusually harsh response from Moscow, an ally of the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters Monday that the air strike "was a dangerous development," while Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, said the attack was "a cause for concern for us."
