29 Mar 2024
Tuesday 21 November 2017 - 14:59
Story Code : 283921

Iran only fights terrorism in Syria: Russia envoy to Israel

Iran only fights terrorism in Syria: Russia envoy to Israel


Press TV- Russias Ambassador to IsraelAlexander Shein has defended Irans presence in Syria, saying the Islamic Republic solely battles terrorism gripping the Arab country.

Writing on the Russian embassys Facebook page on Monday, Shein echoed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrovs remarks on November 14, who described the Iranian and Russian military presence in Syria as legitimateat the invitation of the lawful government.

Iran has been providing military advisory assistance to Syrian government forces in the fight against a myriad Takfiri terror groups operating to topple the Damascus government.

Earlier this month, the US, Russia and Jordan reached an agreement in Amman to establish a temporary de-escalation zone in southwest Syria. The deal was part of a similar trilateral accord back in June.

Reports said the agreement provides for the withdrawal of non-Syrian fighters allied with the Syrian government from the truce area.

However, Lavrov said that in the deal there was no talk of Iran, furthermore, of pro-Iranian forceswithdrawal.

Irked by Lavrovs comments, Israeli minister of military affairs Avigdor Liberman said a day later that Tel Aviv simply will not allow Shia and Iranian entrenchment in Syria.

Elsewhere in his message, Shein said that he was surprised by the Israeli medias reaction to the agreement on Syria and to Lavrovs defense of Irans presence there.

Russia consistently acts in conformity with norms and principles of the international law that legitimates the Iranian presence in Syria. The aim of this presence is confined to war on terrorism. To this end, Russia cooperates with Iran in Syria,he added.

Israel worried over gains by Syria, allies

Separately on Monday, Lieberman requested a boost in Israels military budget, citing a significant change in the security situation in the region.


[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"] Israeli minister of military affairs Avigdor Liberman (Photo by AFP)[/caption]
Israels five-year military budget, which was approved in 2015, was set at 56.1 billion shekels ($16 billion) a year), excluding the annual aid from the US.

Lieberman said he wants the budget increased by 4.8 billion shekels ($1.37 billion)over the next three years.

The Israeli minister also identified several areas of particular concern for the Israeli regime, among them the massive Russian presence in Syria and a dramatic acceleration in Irans military build-up as well as the consolidation of its role in Syria.

90 percent of Syrias populated territory is back under [President Bashar al-]Assads control, . In this sense, the Russians achieved their goals in Syria preserving the Assad government and undermining the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, he added.

The Tel Aviv regime has been accused of colluding with terrorist groups, such as Daesh, which is currently losing ground against the Syrian army.

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