Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday Israel would continue its military operations in Syria, after Russia announced it would supply an advanced anti-aircraft system to its Syrian ally.
"We will continue to act to prevent Iranian military entrenchment in Syria and we will continue the military coordination between the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) and the Russian army," Netanyahu told reporters before boarding a flight to New York, where he will address the U.N. General Assembly.
Russia said on Monday it would supply an S-300 surface-to-air missile system to Syria in two weeks despite strong Israeli objections, a week after Moscow accused Israel of indirectly causing the downing of a Russian military jet in Syria.
Russia, which fights in Syria to support the government against rebels and militants, has said Syrian anti-aircraft batteries shot its IL-20 surveillance plane down by mistake shortly after Israeli jets hit a nearby target.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a statement that there are no obstacles in cooperation between Turkey and his country.Rouhani’s remarks come regarding to his meeting on Monday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York.According the statement, Rouhani welcomed Turkish participation of investors and companies in Iran project development process.Commenting on Erdoğan’s condemnation to the Ahvaz military parade attack, Rouhani said “we stood side by side during the hard days. This incident showed us the need to fight more seriously against terrorism.”On Saturday, a terrorist attack on a military parade in Ahvaz, Iran left at least 25 people dead.The Iranian president also expressed readiness for any kind of cooperation within the trilateral meetings –with Turkey and Russia - regarding to Syria, especially Idlib.Video: Erdoğan meets Iran's Rouhani in New York
No obstacles in way of Iran-Turkey cooperation: Rouhani
Moscow accused Israel of creating dangerous conditions that caused the incident.
Israel, which has carried out air strikes in Syria many times during the civil war, said after the incident it would work to improve "deconfliction" of its missions with Russian forces, but would not halt them.
Netanyahu spoke by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. In his remarks on Tuesday, Netanyahu said he had agreed with Putin "that the working teams from the IDF and the Russian army will meet soon".
The Israeli leader made the remarks after convening his security cabinet to discuss the tensions with Moscow.
Turkey, after purging regions in Syria of terror, is now taking strong initiatives to liven the economy in those areas, primarily in the northwestern town of Afrin.Workshops and factories have been established in the region, with new ones on the way, contributing significantly to employment. Syrian women who successfully completed textile courses were encouraged to continue their efforts. Textile workshops, which were closed when the city was under terrorist occupation, were re-established. The people of Afrin have again started production in textile workshops where Turkey provides security.Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20, 2018 in Syria’s northwestern region of Afrin to eradicate the area of terrorists belonging to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syrian offshoot, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), following Turkey’s seven-month Euphrates Shield Operation which succeeded in clearing large swathes of Syrian territory from Daesh.Turks contribute to purchasesTurkish law-enforcement forces working in the region also obtained their uniforms from these workshops, according to reports. It is emphasized that the orders given by the Turkish security forces have also contributed to the development of the region. Moreover, Afrin, famous for its olive groves, also attracts attention in this area. Reestablish factories to process olives and bring in income is also planned. Additionally, roadworks from the Turkey border to Afrin have been continuing. While the roads that have been damaged by war which are of great importance for commercial mobility are being repaired, new ones are being added to the transportation network.
Turkey establishes factories in Syria’s Afrin to liven economy
"Over the past three years, Israel has been highly successful in preventing the Iranian military entrenchment in Syria and Iranian attempts to transfer lethal weaponry to Hezbollah in Lebanon," Netanyahu said.
But he said there had been occasions when things had not gone smoothly, calling Syria's downing of the Russian plane "tragic".
Israel has long lobbied Moscow not to provide the S-300 to Syria, fearing this would hinder its aerial capability to strike the forces of Iran and its Hezbollah allies in Syria.