UNITED STATES (VOP TODAY NEWS) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Monday he had told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday that supplying “irresponsible parties” with advanced weapons systems would fuel risks in the region.
In a phone call shortly after Russia announced it would supply Syria with the S-300 missile system within two weeks, Netanyahu also said he had told Putin that Israel would continue to protect its security and interests.
Netanyahu and Putin also agreed to continue coordination between the armed forces of the two countries.
Russia’s announcement on the missile system came a week after Moscow blamed Israel for indirectly causing the downing of a Russian warplane in Syria. Israel held Syria responsible.
Israel has long pressed Moscow not to supply Syria with the S-300 system, fearing that it would disrupt its air capability to strike at Iranian and Hezbollah forces in Syria.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shuigu said Moscow had preferred Israel in the past to refrain from supplying Syria with the missile system. But last week’s incident, which killed 15 Russian troops, forced Russia to take “appropriate action to respond” in order to keep its troops safe.
Russia, which is fighting in Syria to back the government, said Syria had accidentally dropped the IL-20 reconnaissance plane shortly after Israeli fighter jets hit a nearby target. Russia holds Israel responsible for creating dangerous conditions that led to the crash.
Israel, which has repeatedly hit targets in Syria during the war, said it would work to improve its “conflict” with Russian forces, but would not stop them.
