Israeli Ambassador to Russia Gary Koren meets with Vladimir Putin
Israeli Ambassador to Russia Gary Koren meets with Vladimir PutinREUTERS

The Russian government summoned Israel’s Ambassador to Russia, Gary Koren, amid a diplomatic dustup after Kremlin officials criticized Israel for not giving them prior notice of a planned strike on a Syrian airbase reportedly housing Iranian drone aircraft.

According to a report carried by the Sputnik news agency, Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Ambassador Koren for talks following the apparent bombing Monday of a Syrian airbase by Israeli fighter jets.

The Israeli embassy in Moscow refused to comment on the report, Yediot Ahronot reported.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Ambassador Koren was scheduled to meet with Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Mikhail Leonidovich Bogdanov.

On Monday, Russian officials blamed Israel for the predawn attack which killed at least 14 people at the T-4 airbase in central Syria.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized Israel for the raid, saying that the situation is at risk of “becoming too dangerous” with “actors whom nobody invited” getting involve inside Syria.

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for President Vladimir Putin noted that Israel did not coordinate with the Kremlin prior to the attack, a fact he said was a “cause for concern” for Russia.

While Israel has yet to officially confirm, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu seemingly alluded to the attack during a speech Monday, saying that Israel followed the dictum of “If someone tries to attack you – rise up and attack him.”

US officials toldNBC News Israel’s air force was indeed behind the attack, adding that Israel discussed the attack with the US prior to its execution.

Israel’s attack on the T-4 airbase came just days after Syrian bombers hit the rebel-held city of Douma, east of Damascus, killing dozens. The bombers used chemical weapons during the attack, US officials confirmed, leading to condemnations from the White House and European leaders.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump warned the Syrian government it would pay a “big price” for the suspected chemical weapons attack.

“Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria,” tweeted Trump.