ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Israel and Russia have reportedly reached an agreement to ensure neither of the countries’ militaries operating in parts of Syria comes into conflict with one another.
The announcement comes following a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin outside of Moscow on Monday. Israeli aircraft have actively targeted Hezbollah targets in Syria, and Russia has in recent weeks beefed up its military presence in Syria in support of its ally, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. Assad is supported by Hezbollah in his country’s ongoing civil war against a number of factions, including Islamist extremist groups like the Islamic State and the Nusra Front. A US-led coalition is also targeting ISIS and Nusra targets in an air campaign, but the US has been adamant in the past that Assad must cede power for there to be a resolution in the civil war.
Briefing Israeli reporters after his meeting with Putin on Monday, Netanyahu said he had come with the goal of "prevent(ing) misunderstandings between IDF (Israel Defense Force) units and Russian forces" in Syria, Reuters reported.
Netanyahu added that the two leaders had "agreed on a mechanism to prevent such misunderstandings," but did not elaborate further.
In prior comments as he welcomed Netanyahu to the Russian presidential residence at Novo-Ogaryovo near Moscow, Putin said Russian activity in the Middle East would always be "responsible," according to Reuters.
The apparent Israel-Russia agreement comes at a time Russia is pressuring the US and its allies to broaden the campaign against the Islamic State by cooperating with Assad.
The intent of the Russian forces buildup at this point remains unclear, but Moscow has increased the number of personnel stationed at its naval base near Latakia, and brought in up to 28 more fighter and bomber jet aircraft to the country, The Washington Post reported Monday. These aircraft include advanced Su-30 multi-role fighter jets, and Su-25s and Su-24s, which are designed for close air support.
The Washington Post also reported Russia had moved 14 helicopters into Syria composed of Mi-24 gunships and Mi-17s, designed for transporting troops. The deployment additionally includes T-90 tanks, artillery, armored personnel carriers and 200 marines, The New York Times has reported.
Despite the Russia-Israel agreement, the US has yet to publicly announce any agreement it may have reached with Russia over Moscow’s buildup, and the potential for both nations’ aircraft to be operating in the same theater or going after the same targets.
However, The Washington Post did report that US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter spoke to his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on Friday about future operations in the region.
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