Netanyahu: Israel, Russia Continue Coordination on Syria

Benjamin Netanyahu said that coordination between Russia and Israel on Syria continues and both countries treat each other’s interests in the conflict-torn region with respect.

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) – Coordination between Russia and Israel on Syria continues and both countries treat each other’s interests in the conflict-torn region with respect, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Israel was one of the first countries to establish a communication channel with Russia in order to avoid unwanted incidents in Syria, where Russia has been launching airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIL) terrorist targets.

Netanyahu told journalists on Thursday that the coordination mechanism with Russia is working and that both Israel and Russia respect each other’s "special interests" in Syria and want to avoid confrontation.

In late November, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said that an aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces task unit deployed to Syria had entered by mistake the Israeli-controlled airspace over Golan Heights and left it. According to Yaalon, a communication channel established between the military of the two countries was involved in settling the issue.

Russia has been conducting airstrikes against Daesh terrorist group (known as Daesh in Arabic) since September 30, at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Daesh, a radical Sunni group, has ceased vast areas in Iraq and Syria, committing numerous human rights atrocities and claiming responsibility for an array of terrorist acts. The group is banned in a range of countries, including Russia.