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Netanyahu heading to Moscow to warn against Iranian influence in Syria
Israel’s Prime Minister will travel to Moscow today, where he is expected to warn Russia’s President against the dangers of Iranian ambitions to develop a foothold in Syria.
In a statement yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the meeting with President Vladimir Putin would be “very important for the security of Israel” and that “the victory over Islamic State terror cannot lead to an increase in territory by Iran and its proxies”.
He added: “You don’t replace terror with terror.”
The statement also said that Netanyahu will express Israel’s vehement opposition to allowing Iranian troops, or satellite groups, on our northern border under any agreement over the future of Syria.
On Sunday, Netanyahu informed the cabinet of his intention to convey to Putin Israel’s “vigorous opposition” to Iranian attempts “to base itself permanently in Syria” including “through a gradual attempt to open a front against us on the Golan Heights”.
Iranian forces and proxy Shi’ite military groups such as Hezbollah have fought alongside the Syrian army, which is also staunchly supported by Russian forces. During previous meetings, Netanyahu and Putin agreed a high-level chain of communication, in order to coordinate their respective military operations in and around Syria. Israel has periodically carried out air strikes to prevent the transfer of advanced weaponry to Hezbollah.
The Kremlin also released a statement ahead of today’s meeting, saying that “a detailed exchange of views is planned on the current situation in the Middle East, primarily in light of joint efforts to combat international terrorism” and that Putin and Netanyahu “are also expected to discuss key aspects of the Palestinian-Israeli settlement”. The statement said that the two leaders will discuss “efforts aimed at scaling up the Russian-Israeli cooperation in trade, economy and the humanitarian area”.
Netanyahu will be accompanied to Moscow by Environment Minister Ze’ev Elkin, acting national security adviser Jacob Nagel, the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, Herzl Halevy, and Netanyahu’s military secretary, Eliezer Toledano.