Russia Blames Israel for Loss of Plane Shot Down by Syrian Forces

But leaders of the two countries quickly worked to defuse further tensions

Thomas Grove and

Felicia Schwartz

Updated Sept. 18, 2018 3:29 p.m. ET

MOSCOW—Russia blamed Israel on Tuesday for the loss of a reconnaissance plane downed accidentally by Syrian forces reacting to a raid by Israeli jet fighters, but leaders of the two countries quickly worked to defuse further tensions, underscoring the desire of regional powers to prevent escalation.

Moscow said that the Israelis had given too little warning of a strike by four F-16s over Syrian airspace that aimed to destroy Iranian targets there. As a result, a Russian Il-20 aircraft was downed overnight by Syria’s semi-automated...