Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Thursday said that any international agreements regarding post-war Syria would not be binding on Israel.
“With all due respect for agreements and treaties [on Syria], they will not be considered binding for us,” Lieberman was quoted as saying by Israeli daily Haaretz.
“We are committed solely to the interests of Israel's security,” he added.
Russia's Ministry of Defence said on Thursday it would hold a major naval exercise in the Mediterranean Sea from Sept. 1 to Sept. 8, the TASS news agency reported, a move that coincides with rising tensions between Moscow and Washington over Syria.Russia has this month been actively expanding its naval forces in the Mediterranean, part of what a Russian newspaper on Tuesday called Moscow's largest naval build-up since it entered the Syrian conflict in 2015.TASS cited the defence ministry as saying that 25 warships and submarines and 30 planes, including fighter jets and strategic bombers, would take part, and that the drills would involve anti-aircraft, anti-submarine and anti-mining exercises.The drills come amid rising tensions between Russia and the West over Syria's northern opposition-held region of Idlib. A source said on Wednesday that Russia's ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was preparing a phased offensive there.Russia says working to set up Lavrov-Pompeo meetingRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that militants in Idlib had to be liquidated, describing them as "a festering abscess"."In the interest of ensuring the security of shipping and aircraft flights in line with international law, the areas of the exercise will be declared dangerous for shipping and flights," TASS quoted the defence ministry as saying.Anatoly Antonov, Russia's Ambassador to the United States, said earlier on Thursday that he had told U.S. officials that Moscow was concerned by signs that the United States was preparing new strikes on Syria. Russia warns US against 'illegal aggression against Syria'Turkish, Russian ministers discuss regional security
Russia to hold major naval drills in Mediterranean
The defense minister did not say exactly what agreements he had in mind, but senior Israeli officials have repeatedly stressed their rejection of any long-term Iranian military presence in Syria.
On Monday, Iranian media outlets reported that Tehran and Damascus had signed a number of military and reconstruction agreements during a visit to Syria by Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami.
Speaking to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth on Thursday, Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said that a permanent Iranian presence in Syria would “endanger” Syria’s Assad regime.
The Manbij roadmap in Syria is "moving forward", Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Thursday.Speaking at a ceremony at the Turkish General Staff headquarters in capital Ankara, Akar said: "Manbij roadmap is moving forward even if slowly. We constantly remind our counterparts about necessity of withdrawing YPG/PKK from region."The Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the city in order to stabilize the region.Russia warns US against 'illegal aggression against Syria'About the situation in Syria's Idlib, Akar said: "Turkey strives for ensuring security, preventing attacks, giving aid to nearly 3.5-4 million people in Syria's Idlib without violating the ceasefire."Located near the Turkish border, Idlib in May was designated as a de-escalation zone where acts of aggression are expressly forbidden as part of the ongoing Astana process.Nevertheless, for the past two months, the Idlib de-escalation zone has been the target of particular fierce airstrikes by Russia and Assad regime forces.Turkish, Russian ministers discuss regional security
Manbij roadmap 'moving forward slowly': Turkey's Akar
“We are determined to prevent [long-term] Iranian deployments in Syria,” he asserted.
Israel frequently accuses Tehran of exploiting the conflict in neighboring Syria -- where Iran supports the Assad regime -- to establish a permanent military presence near Israel’s border.
Russia's Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said he had told U.S. officials earlier this week that Moscow is concerned over signs that the United States is preparing new strikes on Syria and warned against "groundless and illegal aggression against Syria".Antonov met this week with U.S. officials, including James Jeffrey, special representative for Syria, the Russia Embassy said in a posting on its Facebook page. Turkish, Russian ministers discuss regional securityUN chief 'deeply concerned' by possible Idlib offensiveErdoğan hosts Iranian FM in AnkaraFrench FM urges for a political solution in Syria
Russia warns US against 'illegal aggression against Syria'