Russia gives Israel green light to attack Syria

The Kremlin has given Israel a green light to launch attacks in Syria on condition that Syrian President Bashar Assad’s assets are not targeted, the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported Friday, according to Israel Hayom.

According to the report, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu assured Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman during their meeting in Moscow on Thursday of Russia’s approval for Israeli strikes, the report said.

After the the meeting with Shoigu, Liberman said on his Twitter account that “Israel appreciates Russia’s understanding of our security needs and in particular the situation on our northern border.

“The dialogue with Russia will continue,” Liberman added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday said foreign militias should leave southwestern Syria as soon as possible, state media outlet TASS reported.

Lavrov echoed comments he made earlier in the week when he said that only Syrian troops should be stationed in rebel-held Daraa province, a region adjacent to the Israeli border that has emerged as a flashpoint in a wider standoff between the Jewish state and Iran.

Assad told Russian TV Thursday that Syria had no Iranian troops on its soil.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned his government would not allow Iran to maintain a military presence anywhere inside Syria.

The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement Thursday, saying Netanyahu and Putin spoke by phone and discussed “the latest regional developments and Iran’s foothold in Syria.”