TENSIONS rose dangerously in the Middle East today as Israel was blamed for the downing of a Russian jet during Tel Aviv’s latest missile attacks on Syria.

The Russian II-20 aircraft disappeared from the radar last night as Israeli and French forces were engaged in an aerial bombardment of Syrian targets in the province of Latakia.

French military spokesman Colonel Patrik Steiger denied “any involvement in the incident.”

Russian military spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said four Israeli F-16 jets had forced the Russian jet into the path of Syrian air defences without giving Moscow enough warning. It was subsequently shot down, with all 15 people on board killed.

He branded Israel’s actions deliberate and “irresponsible,” accusing the Israeli jets of using the Russian plane as a shield from Syrian air defence systems.

“Israel did not warn the command of the Russian troops in Syria about the planned operation. We received a notification via a hotline less than a minute before the strike, which did not allow the Russian aircraft to be directed to a safe zone,” Maj-Gen Konashenkov said.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman that blame for the killing of 15 air service personnel “fully rests with Israel,” warning that Moscow “reserves the right to take further steps.”

Israeli ambassador Gary Koren was summoned by the Kremlin for urgent talks about the incident, a Russian foreign ministry spokesman confirmed.

President Vladimir Putin offered his condolences to the victims’ colleagues, families and friends and said he was “extremely concerned” about the events which led to the incident.

The Israeli position is to offer no comment on allegations of missile attacks. However, earlier this year a senior military official admitted that Tel Aviv had carried out more than 200 targeted bombings on Syria.

In May at least 27 people were killed as Israeli missiles pummelled Damascus just hours after US President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal.

Israel claims to be acting to stop the build-up of Iranian troops in Syria, seeing them as a threat. However, Damascus has accused Tel Aviv of supporting jihadist groups in the country and stoking the flames for further war in the Middle East.

Syrian government forces claimed to have found Israeli-supplied weapons at a former jihadist position in Daraa province at the weekend.