Netanyahu Meets Putin, Fears Weapons from Iran Falling in Hizbullah Hands
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow Thursday over fears the Kremlin's involvement in Syria and weapons deliveries to Iran could bolster the Jewish state's fiercest opponents.
"Israel has obvious and evident red lines connected to our security," Netanyahu told Putin at the start of the meeting.
"Firstly, we are doing everything that depends on us to stop the most hi-tech weaponry from Syria and Iran from falling into the hands of Hizbullah," he said.
"Secondly, we are doing everything in order to prevent an additional terrorist front opening up against us in the Golan Heights."
Russia is currently flying a bombing campaign in support of forces loyal to President Bashar Assad in Syria.
Iran and its ally Hizbullah are also battling on the side of the regime in Damascus -- making the trio de facto allies on the ground.
Israel fears that the chaos in Syria could help strengthen its arch-enemy Hizbullah and Netanyahu admitted for the first time this month that Israel had attacked dozens of convoys there which were transporting weapons to the group.
It was the first clear public acknowledgment that Israel had carried out attacks in neighboring Syria with which it is still officially at war.
Russia has also stirred Israeli ire by pushing ahead with the long-awaited delivery of the S-300 air defense system to Tehran.
Iran used its annual Army Day parade last week to showcase parts of the systems -- ordered from Moscow in 2007 but not delivered until now due to U.N. Security Council resolutions relating to Tehran's nuclear program.
Netanyahu last visited Moscow in September when he and Putin agreed to set up a "hotline" between the two sides to avoid accidental clashes between Russian and Israeli forces in Syria.
Source: Agence France Presse
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