Putin seeks to ease Israeli fears in rare Netanyahu meeting
(Worthy News) – Russian President Vladimir Putin told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to worry about the Russian military buildup in Syria as the two men held talks in Moscow on Monday, their first face-to-face meeting in nearly two years.
Mr. Putin sought to assuage Israeli concerns after Mr. Netanyahu expressed unease over Russia’s growing support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, whom the Israeli leader said is increasingly colluding with Iran toward launching state-sponsored terrorist attacks against Israel.
Mr. Netanyahu said during a meeting at Mr. Putin’s residence outside Moscow that Iran and Syria have been supplying Hezbollah with advanced weapons and are “trying to set up a second terrorist front on the Golan Heights,” which Israel captured from Syria and effectively annexed in 1981. [ Source ]
Israel, Russia to coordinate in air, sea, and electromagnetic arena
The IDF and Russian military will set up a joint working group to coordinate their Syria-related activities in the aerial, naval, and electromagnetic arenas, a senior defense source said Monday. The source spoke soon after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot returned from a one-day visit to Moscow, following intensive meetings on Russia’s newly expanded military role in Syria.
According to foreign reports, the Israel Air Force has launched multiple air strikes in recent years to intercept Iranian and Syrian weapons that were on the way to Hezbollah storage facilities in Lebanon.
Israel has shared concerns with Russia that it’s interceptions could be compromised if military coordination is not put into place soon.
In Russia, Eisenkot met with his Russian counterpart, General Valery Vasilevich Gerasimov – the first time chiefs of staff from Russia and Israel held a direct meeting. Eisenkot also participated in part of the meeting held between Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Afterward, the two sides agreed to set up a joint working group led by the deputy chiefs of staff from each country. The first meeting will occur in two weeks, and the location will be decided in the coming days. [ Source ]