Moscow has also begun sending Syrians to war with Ukraine, helping it keep Syrian cities under control.
Israel angered Russia by supporting US initiative to stop Russian membership in the UN Human Rights Council. In addition, last week, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid accused Moscow of war crimes in Ukraine. And Russian officials did not like it either.
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued an unusually harsh statement, calling Lapid's words a “poorly disguised attempt to use the situation in Ukraine to divert the attention of the international community from the oldest of the unresolved Palestinian-Israeli conflicts.” Later, in an interview with Channel 11, Russia's ambassador to Israel, Anatoly Viktorov, called Lapid's remarks baseless and said he expected a “more balanced position.” However, he added that Israel and Russia are still friends, Haaretz writes.
“So far” is an important word. Because Israel has not yet resolved its dilemma on the issue of Ukraine. The country's passivity before the vote in the UN General Assembly condemning Russia's invasion of Ukrainian territory surprised and angered citizens, as well as the United States. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has tried to act as a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow. At the same time, Israel's refusal to impose sanctions on Russia was motivated by a desire to maintain “friendship” with the Kremlin so that Israeli troops could continue to operate freely in Syria. However, the Russian side seems to be losing patience.
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After an Israeli air strike in Syria on Thursday, Russian Admiral Oleg Zhuravlyov said that the Syrian air defense system allegedly shot down an Israeli missile. All Syrian weapons are made in Russia. Damascus is buying it under a 2007 agreement. The Russian admiral's statement about the interception is a clear hint that Moscow may reconsider its “open skies” policy for Israel. In addition, on March 24, Russian Ambassador to Syria Alexander Yefimov accused Israel of “provoking” Russia, which may respond to its attacks. Allegedly, the Israeli side is trying to “increase tensions and justify the West's military action in Syria.”
“Israel is trying to be careful. But now it is not just a matter of avoiding strikes on targets important to Russia, such as Syrian army bases. It is also about diplomacy. Air coordination is still maintained. At the same time, we understand that the time when Israel is free to act is coming to an end. And we need to increase the pace, “said Haaretz, an unnamed Israeli military.
Another cause for concern for Israel in recent days. Russia is reducing its forces in Syria, including hundreds of Wagner mercenaries. They are sent to the war in Ukraine. At the same time, Russian soldiers are being replaced by Iranians and militants loyal to Tehran. The 47th Syrian Panzer Brigade is now under Iranian command in the southern part of the Hama governorate. Last week, about 40 units of military equipment arrived at the brigade's base, as well as 17 trucks with machine guns, some of which belong to Hezbollah. Haaretz writes that the war in Ukraine could make the Iranian military presence a major factor in decision-making in Syria.
With Russia's consent, dictator Bashar al-Assad has asked Iran to send additional forces. Thus, the Syrian regime hopes that Tehran will be able to fill the gap in the forces left behind by Moscow, transferring its troops to another Russian war.
“At the same time, in the war against Ukraine, Russia is using Syrian militants who helped the Russian army run Syrian cities after the ceasefire was established,” the article reads.
It is believed that the longer the war in Ukraine will continue, the more Russia will need “volunteers” from neighboring countries, as well as Chechens, Belarusians and others. Moscow will also have to further reduce its presence in Syria.
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Haaretz writes that the Russian-Israeli military coordination in Syria was based on the common interest not to allow Iran to strengthen its position near Israeli border. Tehran has now understood this.
“Iranian parliamentarians and state media condemn Russia, including its war against Ukraine,” the article said. and a convoy of weapons for Hezbollah. Iran is annoyed that Moscow has stripped it of its economic presence in Syria and taken control of Syrian oil fields. Russia is also demanding that the United States lift sanctions against it for invading Syria. In return, Moscow will agree to support the resumption of the agreement on the Iranian nuclear deal. And Tehran is furious that the Russian side is trying to benefit from it.
