BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister travelled to Sochi yesterday to warn the Russian President that Iranian expansion in Syria threatens not only Israel but the entire Middle East.

Speaking after their three hour meeting, Benjamin Netanyahu said that “most of the conversation we discussed Iran’s efforts to establish itself in Syria in areas where [ISIS] is being driven out…the victory over [ISIS] is welcome, Iran’s encroachment is not, and in my opinion it endangers the region and the entire world.”

Netanyahu also said that whilst Israeli and Russian interests are aligned in combating Iran’s growing influence in the region, he said the “Lebanisation” of Syria by Iran, using Shi’ite militia, was a red line as far as Israel was concerned.

Netanyahu noted in a conference call after the meeting that he had informed Putin that Israel’s freedom of action in the region had remained unchanged.

Putin did not address Netanyahu’s remarks about Iran’s role in Syria during the open session with journalists.

Netanyahu was joined on his visit by Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, who had just returned from the US following talks between military and intelligence officials. He briefed Putin with “sensitive, credible and very disturbing detailed intelligence” on Iran’s military presence in Syria, a YNet correspondent reported.

Israel has voiced concern about the ceasefire agreement in southern Syria reached between the US, Jordan and Russia at last month’s G20 summit, and there was “grave concern” after Cohen and other senior intelligence officials failed to obtain an American commitment to limit Iran’s expansion during their visit.

According to Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, writing in the Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs, Israel has two immediate concerns regarding Iranian entrenchment in Syria: Iran’s efforts with its proxy Hezbollah to turn Syria into a launchpad for terror activities against Israel; and the delivery of game-changing military equipment to Hezbollah through Syria.