Netanyahu, Putin Agree to Boost Cooperation in Syria

The Fellowship | January 4, 2019

Russian President Vladimir Putin receives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Kremlin — MOSCOW, RUSSIA - JULY 11: (RUSSIA OUT) Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) talks to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) during their talks at the Kremlin, in Moscow, Russia, July,11,2018. Prime Minister of Israel is having a one-day trip to Moscow. (Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin recently to discuss the U.S. decision to pull its troops out of Syria. The Times of Israel reports that during the conversation, Netanyahu focused on the need for the two countries to build military cooperation in Syria:

Netanyahu’s office later confirmed the call, saying that Netanyahu told Putin that Israel is determined to continue its efforts to prevent Iran from entrenching itself militarily in Syria…

Israel in recent years has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria against targets linked to Iran, which alongside its proxies and Russia is fighting on behalf of the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Jerusalem is concerned that Iran will use Syria as a forward base from which to attack the Jewish state.