Netanyahu in talks with Russia to avoid Syria ‘frictions’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds talks with two Russian officials on reinforcing military coordination in Syria in order to avoid any “friction” there, his office says.

The talks focus on “Iran and the situation in Syria, and strengthening the security coordination mechanism between the militaries in order to prevent friction,” says a statement from his office.

At the meeting, the Kremlin’s Syria envoy Alexander Lavrentiev and Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin “reiterated Russia’s commitment to the maintenance of Israel’s national security,” says the statement.

Both Russia and the Islamic republic, Israel’s arch-enemy, are allies of Syrian President Bashar Assad and have helped his forces inflict numerous defeats on rebels and jihadists.

— AFP