
Russian soldiers ride an armored vehicle near the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra on March 31, 2016.
Photo: Getty Images/JOSEPH EID/AFP
UPDATE: 6:29 a.m. EDT – The Kremlin has
denied an Israeli newspaper report, which cited an unnamed source
claiming that Russian forces in Syria fired at Israeli military
aircraft. It also denied that Russian President Vladimir Putin and
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had discussed the alleged
incidents during the latter’s visit to Moscow Thursday.
"In this case, Israeli press reports are far from reality," Kremlin
spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, according to Reuters.Original story:
Russian military forces in Syria fired at Israeli Air Force
planes at least twice in recent weeks, Israel's top-selling newspaper
Yedioth Ahronoth reported Friday. Moscow's actions reportedly raised
concerns, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call for
improved operational coordination and urge the Kremlin to avoid any
potentially dangerous clashes.
The report, which cited an unnamed source, did not mention any dates
or location for the incidents, but claimed that Israeli President Reuven
Rivlin spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the incidents
during his visit last month to Moscow. Putin reportedly
said that he had not heard about any such incidents, despite complete
coordination between the two militaries. The reason behind Netanyahu's
visit to Moscow Thursday to meet with Putin and Russia’s defense
minister was also seen to be linked to the firing incidents, the report
added."I came here with one main goal - to strengthen the security coordination between us so as to avoid mishaps, misunderstandings and unnecessary confrontations," Netanyahu told Putin in televised remarks Thursday, according to Reuters.
Russia, a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime, increased its military presence in Syria in September to defeat the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, and other “terrorists.” However, several countries have argued that Russia’s attack in Syria is intended at keeping its long-term ally Assad in power. Assad’s government often refers to all opposition fighters as "terrorists."
In an indirect reference to Syria, Putin reportedly said Thursday: "I think there are understandable reasons for these intensive contacts (with Israel), given the complicated situation in the region."
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a Russian warplane approached an Israeli warplane off the Mediterranean coast of Syria last week, Israel's Channel 10 TV reported, adding that there was no contact between them.
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