US-Sanctioned Russian Military Plane Lands Secretly in Israel
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
A Russian Tu-154 military aircraft, under U.S. sanctions and previously operated by the Wagner Group, made a secret landing at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport on Monday. The plane, typically used for high-ranking officials, departed Tuesday for Abu Dhabi, with its passengers and mission undisclosed. The U.S. sanctioned the aircraft in May 2023. The visit coincides with increased Russian engagement in U.S.-Iran communications and follows a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Mohsen Rezaei.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A Russian Tu-154 military plane, subject to U.S. sanctions, landed secretly in Israel.
- The aircraft was previously used by the Wagner Group and is typically for high-ranking officials.
- The Israeli security establishment declined to comment on the plane's arrival or departure.
- The U.S. sanctioned 37 Russian aircraft, including this one, in May 2023.
- The visit occurs amid U.S.-Iran communication efforts and follows a Putin-Rezaei meeting.
- The plane later departed for Abu Dhabi, where Russia-Ukraine talks are set to resume.
A Russian Tu-154 military aircraft, subject to U.S. sanctions and previously used by the Wagner Group, landed secretly at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on Monday evening. The plane, registration number RA-85042, departed Tuesday noon for Abu Dhabi without disclosing the identity of its passengers or the purpose of its visit to Israel. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 indicates the aircraft is typically used for transporting high-ranking officials. The Israeli security establishment declined to comment on the arrival.
The United States included the aircraft on a list of 37 Russian planes sanctioned in May 2023, after its use by the Wagner mercenary group, which served Russian interests before the Russian military took over its operation. The visit occurs amid increasing Russian involvement in communications related to a potential agreement between the U.S. and Iran.
Last Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei in the Kremlin. Russian Military Intelligence Chief Igor Kostyukov was also present. Rezaei stated after the meeting that "important regional issues were discussed with Putin," but provided no further details. The plane's departure to Abu Dhabi, where Russia-Ukraine peace talks are scheduled to resume Wednesday, has not been linked to those negotiations.
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