Investigating the Russian Plane Crash in Egypt

MIDDLE EAST

A Russian flight crashed in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt on Oct. 31, killing all 224 people on board. Officials are investigating what might have caused an explosion that brought down the plane.

UPDATED Nov. 5

The Egyptian government has long promoted the glittering resort of Sharm el Sheikh as both the crown jewel of its tourist industry and a redoubt of security against jihadist violence.

As a militant insurgency based in northern Sinai has raised alarms about travel to broad sections of the country, the Egyptian authorities and Western governments held out Sharm el Sheikh as a safe haven. The steady flow of sun-seekers — increasingly budget-minded Russians — was a bright spot in Egypt’s deeply troubled tourism industry.

Now, the crash of a Russian passenger jet that took off from Sharm el Sheikh has threatened the resort’s reputation.

So what? What is more important, the reputation of a resort or the lives that were lost? [AA}

The tail of the Metrojet airliner that crashed in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt on Saturday.

Mystery Deepens Over Russian Plane Crash in Egypt NOV. 2, 2015

Vladimir Puchkov, left, Russia’s emergency situations minister, with other officials on Sunday at the site of the Metrojet crash on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.
Who’s Involved in the Metrojet Crash Investigation NOV. 2, 2015

Grieving at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, where a plane from Egypt on Monday returned the bodies of some of the 224 victims.

Families and Experts Begin to Identify Sinai Plane Crash Victims in St. PetersburgNOV. 2, 2015

Flowers and stuffed animals piled up at a makeshift memorial at Pulkovo Airport on Sunday, forming a somber scene as Russians commemorated their dead.

Amid Vigils and Debris, Officials Seek Cause of Sinai Peninsula Crash NOV. 1, 2015

Although the cause of the crash remained unknown pending investigation of the wreckage, an Egyptian arm of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, has claimed responsibility. The claim has focused attention on the possibility that the militants might have penetrated the Sharm el Sheikh airport in order to plant an explosive inside the airplane.

And who funds, trained, and provide weapons to ISIS ?

Syrian civilians helping Russian airstrikes target ISIS – Defense Ministry

Published time: 17 Oct, 2015 11:50 Edited time: 20 Oct, 2015 10:23

2717545 10/10/2015 Russian Su-25 attack aircraft take off from the Khmeimim airbase in Syria. Dmitriy Vinogradov/RIA Novosti

 

RT NEWS

Russian warplanes have bombed a training camp in Syria where foreign instructors trained potential suicide bombers, the Russian defense ministry said. It was one of 49 terrorist targets hit by the Russian Air Forces over the day.

“Not far from Salma in Latakia province, a Su-24M bomber delivered a strike at a building, which was used as a terrorist training ground. According to intelligence, there were ISIL foreign instructors, who were training people, including suicide bombers, for guerrilla warfare in areas liberated by the Syrian army,” ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

He added that the facility had its own explosives workshop, which was also destroyed by an airstrike.

Точечный удар по командному пункту боевиков в пров. Идлиб корректируемой авиабомбой КАБ-500

https://youtu.be/vF9lt0wt_9g

Russian warplanes conducted 36 combat sorties on Saturday and attacked 49 militant targets in Syria, including command points, weapons workshops, firing positions, depots and fortified bunkers, Konashenkov added.

The general said that the terrorist group Islamic State (IS, formerly known as ISIS/ISIL), which suffered serious damage from Russian bombings, is working to rebuild its infrastructure.

“The militants’ new tactics is to spread their supply and command facilities, but it does not work. All their new infrastructure objects are being identified and destroyed,” he said.

READ MORE: Russia offers US ‘broader cooperation’ in Syria, but Washington not ready – Defense Ministry

Konashenkov said the civilian population in the areas under terrorist group’s control are aiding the Russian airstrikes by providing intelligence about IS to the Syrian government.

“This information is double-checked by our aviation group with various technical means of reconnaissance. Following this, a decision is made on which objects we should target,” he said.

Точечный удар по бункеру террористов ИГИЛ в провинции Латакия бетонобойными бомбами БЕТАБ-500

https://youtu.be/Toh7EKvo08s

Russia is providing air support to Syrian government troops, which are currently undertaking an offensive to retake villages and cities captured by terrorist groups. Moscow says its goal is to stabilize the situation in the country enough to allow political dialogue between Damascus and moderate opposition to start.

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