Putin to Netanyahu: Avoid any Provocative Act in Region
Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the Israeli authorities to avoid escalating the situation in the region following their recent attack on Syrian territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the Israeli authorities to avoid escalating the situation in the region following their recent attack on Syrian territory.
The Kremlin said in a statement on Saturday evening that Putin called on the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call to avoid any step that could result in a new cycle of confrontation in the region.
The statement said that the two sides discussed during the call the situation pertaining to the airstrikes carried out by Israeli warplanes on Syrian territory.
Israel said one of its F-16s crashed Syrian soil after it came under fire from Syria army. Israel meanwhile responded with a “large scale attack” on 12 bases in Syria. The incident was sparked by what Israel said was an Iranian drone infiltrating its air space.
However, a joint operation room of Syria and its allies, Iran and Hezbollah, denied the drone entered Israel airspace.
On the other hand, Russia’s foreign ministry expressed concerns over Israeli missile strikes in Syria and is asking the sides to avoid escalating the situation.
Russia criticized Israel’s actions by saying it was “absolutely unacceptable to create threats to the lives and security of Russian servicemen.”
Meanwhile, Syria state TV says its air defenses have responded to new Israeli raids near the capital Damascus, following an earlier raid in the country’s center.
The TV broadcaster said sounds of explosions were heard Saturday in Reef Damascus province, near the capital. The Syrian air defenses responded to a “new Israeli aggression.”
The new Israeli raids come hours after an earlier one in central Syria.
