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Control Over S Syria Borders to Be Handed to Damascus - Source

© AFP 2023 / JALAA MAREYIsraeli-occupied Golan Heights shows smoke billowing from the Syrian side of the border
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights shows smoke billowing from the Syrian side of the border - Sputnik International
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Control over the southern borders of Syria, including the al-Tanf area, will be handed over to the government forces of Syria after the Paris talks, a source familiar with the situation told Sputnik.

"All areas on the (southern) border will be transferred to the government of Syria, an agreement on the UN Zone for Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) will be resumed on the Golas Heights, the presence of Iranian forces in the border areas is not stipulated," the source told Sputnik.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to insist that Iran should leave the entire territory of Syria.

"We are working against the Iranian military presence in Syria and we will not be satisfied if it leaves only the southern part of Syria," the prime minister said. "The long-range missiles that Iran is trying to deploy there threaten Israel from an even greater distance, and therefore Iran must leave the entire territory of Syria."

Israel, Russia Agree on Syrian Forces Deployment

Earlier in the day, Israel and Russia have agreed to deploy the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad near the Israeli northern borders, the Channel 2 broadcaster reported on Tuesday.

In exchange for the Israeli concession, Russia promised to ensure that the Syrian pro-government troops deployed near the Israeli-Syrian border would not include Iranian forces and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, the Channel 2 broadcaster reported, citing a high-ranking political source.

The media report, however, has yet to be commented on by Syrian authorities.

However, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov stated that Moscow had no information about the reported deal between the countries.

The report comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the Jewish state would never accept any Iranian military presence "anywhere" in Syria, thus, repeating his earlier statements warning Tehran against gaining a foothold in the Arab Republic.

READ MORE: Hypothetical War Scenario: Who Would Prevail, Iran or Israel?

In this photo taken on Tuesday May 23, 2017, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group, the Hammurabi's Justice News, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows a U.S.-backed anti-government Syrian fighter form Maghaweer al-Thawra stands on a vehicle with heavy automatic machine gun, left, next of an American soldier who also stands on his armored vehicle, right, as they take their position at the Syrian-Iraqi crossing border point of Tanf, south Syria - Sputnik International
Daesh-Linked Terror Groups Seen in Syrian al-Tanf Controlled by US - Lavrov
The decades-long tensions between the countries have further escalated after the Israeli Air Force’s attack on dozens of what it called "Iranian targets" in Syria earlier in May. Its turn, Iran, has yet again reiterated that it has no bases in the Arab Republic, while exclusively its military advisors are present in the country in order to help the Syrian government fight terrorism.

Commenting on the attack, Damascus stated that Syria would counter all the attacks by the Israeli forces on its sovereign territory and will not hesitate to strike Israeli military targets as it has a right for self-defense.

READ MORE: Netanyahu: Iran Should Be Denied Any Military Presence in Syria

The Golan Heights, seized by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed 14 years later, are also one of the main sources of tensions between Israel and Syria. The international community has not recognized Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights, with the UN condemning the move in 1981 and 2008 and Tel Aviv saying that it the territory, which has remained an apple of discord for Israel and Syria, would never be returned to Damascus.

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