Senior Russian military official in Israel to discuss Syria, Iran

Lt. Gen. Ianovskiy arrived in Tel Aviv following a telephone discussion between the Russian and Israeli leaders focusing on Iran’s presence in Syria and international terrorism.

By: AP and World Israel News Staff

As the situation surrounding Iran’s presence in Syria heats up, Lieutenant-General Vladimir Ivanovskiy, head of Russia’s Military Police Directorat, arrived in Israel late Friday following discussions earlier in the day between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin said the leaders, in a telephone conversation, discussed “the situation in Syria in the context of joint efforts to ensure security around the Syrian-Israeli border.”

They “voiced readiness to strengthen coordination on Syria, including on combating international terrorism,” the Kremlin said.

The discussion follows up on the two leaders’ talks in Moscow and the Israeli defense minister’s visit to Russia last month.

The Syrian government’s plans to recapture rebel-held areas near the border raised Israeli concerns that besides Russia, President Bashar Assad’s other backers — Iran and its proxy, the Lebanon-based Hezbollah terror group — could reaffirm their presence there.

Israel has warned repeatedly that it will not allow Iran to maintain a military presence in Syria.

At the weekly security cabinet meeting in Jerusalem Sunday morning, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said:

“Over the weekend I spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. We discussed regional issues and focused – of course – on Syria.

“I reiterated our guiding principles regarding Syria. First of all, Iran needs to withdraw from all of Syria. Second, we will take action – and are already taking action – against efforts to establish a militarily presence by Iran and its proxies in Syria both close to the border and deep inside Syria. We will act against these efforts anywhere in Syria.”