Iran threatens to annihilate Israel, it arms terrorist groups and sponsors global terrorism, PM Netanyahu says in meeting with Russian President Putin – Netanyahu: Iran’s accelerated efforts to gain a military foothold in Syria reflect its aggression.

By Shlomo Cesana and Eli Leon, TOI

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarked on a short visit to Russia on Wednesday, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders, who met at the Black Sea resort town of Sochi, discussed regional security issues, mainly Iran’s increased presence in Syria and Lebanon, Israel’s neighbors to the north.

Several senior defense officials joined Netanyahu’s trip, including Mossad Director Yossi Cohen, Director of Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. Herzl Halevi and newly appointed National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat. Environmental Protection Minister Zeev Elkin is part of the delegation, as well.

Netanyahu and Putin met at noon, Wednesday. Their meeting was followed by a meeting of the larger forum of Israeli and Russian defense officials.

During the two leader’s meeting, Netanyahu said Iran’s growing role in Syria poses a threat to Israel, the Middle East and the world.

“Mr. President, with joint efforts we are defeating Islamic State, and this is a very important thing. But the bad thing is, that where the defeated Islamic State group vanishes, Iran is stepping in. We cannot forget for a single minute that Iran threatens every day to annihilate Israel. It [Iran] arms terrorist organizations, it sponsors and initiates terror,” Netanyahu said.

Iran, he warned, “is already well on its way to controlling Iraq, Yemen and to a large extent in already in practice in control of Lebanon.”

A Kremlin statement said Putin and Netanyahu “exchanged opinions on bilateral relations and the situation in the Middle East, primarily Syria, on fighting international terrorism, a Palestinian-Israeli settlement and other global and regional issues.”

Netanyahu and Putin have met several times since Russia became involved in the fighting in Syria in the fall of 2015. The leaders usually discuss issues pertaining to the coordination between Israel and Russia’s air force missions over Israel’s borders with Syria and Lebanon, but Wednesday’s meeting focused on Iran’s intentions to establish a base of operations in Syria, which would pose a direct threat to Israel.

The prime minister reportedly presented the Russian president with Israel’s concerns over the presence of Iranian troops and advisers in Syria and over the flow of Iranian weapons and military equipment into the war-torn country. The deal negotiated between Russia and the United States to end the Syrian conflict seems to ignore these concerns.

Allowing increased Iranian involvement in Syria and Lebanon could drag the entire Middle East into war, Netanyahu reportedly warned and further asked Putin to ensure that there is no permanent presence of Iranian, Hezbollah and Shiite militia forces in Syria.

The prime minister said Tuesday that he plans to alert Putin to “Iran’s accelerated efforts to gain a military foothold in Syria,” which he said …read more

Source:: Israpundit

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