A Russian plane IL-20. (Photo: The Drive/ VNA)

Igor Konashenkov, the Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson, told a press conference that Israel and Russia maintain a special hotline to prevent their air forces from clashing in the skies over Syria, but Israel used the hotline to mislead Russia about its plans. He said the Russians were unable to get the Il-20 to a safe place because an Israeli duty officer misled them, which reflected "either lack of professionalism or criminal negligence."