Israeli envoy to Russia summoned following reported airstrike on Syria

JERUSALEM, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Russia summoned the Israeli ambassador to Moscow on Tuesday, a day after the Kremlin condemned the alleged Israeli attack on an Syrian airbase, Israel's Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry confirmed in a statement that Gary Koren, Israel's ambassador in Russia, was summoned for a conversation with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.

The ministry played down the move, saying that "routine talks with the Russians are being held regularly."

Earlier on Monday, Russia's military said that two Israeli F-15 fighter jets struck the T-4 military airbase in Homs province in Syria. The attack killed at least 14 people, seven of them were reported to be Iranian nationals.

Israel has not officially commented on the attack. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened that Israel will attack whoever threatened it.

"We have a simple rule that we constantly express: get up and hurt those trying to hurt you," he said. "Security in the present is a necessary condition for future security."

Israel and Russia have held routine coordination talks since Russia started to send forces to fight along Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's army in the war-torn country.

Also on Tuesday, Israeli Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan told the Hebrew-language Ynet news site that Israel's ties with Russia are "very important", but "we have to adhere to our policy and not allow the Iranian enemy to cross our red lines."

Israeli officials have repeatedly warned that Israel would not allow Iran to gain a military stronghold in Syria, Israel's northern neighbor.

The attack came amid an international wrangling about the allegations of the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian army in the attack on the rebels in Douma district on the outskirts of Syrian capital Damascus. Enditem