“The Russian Su-25 attack aircraft could have been shot down  for provocation purposes”, said Vladimir Shamanov, head of the Russian State Duma Defense Committee.

“It has come to light that there are more than 1,000 American instructors in Idlib, and it is impossible to rule out that they couldn’t have done this for provocation purposes,” the parliamentarian said.

A reminder, that the aircraft was flying in a de-escalation zone – as agreed to by Iran, Turkey and Russia.

The First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, Franz Klintsevich, promised that Russia would conduct a serious investigation of the circumstances of the Su-25 attack in the de-escalation zone. He clarified that the investigation will seek to identify the MANPADS that were used to bring down the aircraft, and who provided them.

But Klintsevich also expressed his pre-investigation conviction that said MANPADS were supplied by the Americans.

The Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Warring Parties in Syria, together with the Turkish side responsible for the de-escalation zone of Idlib, are taking measures to bring the body of the Russian pilot home.

This incident brings Russia’s loss of aircraft in Syria to eight –  four aircraft and four helicopters.