Russian Ambassador Alexander Lavrentyev announced on Wednesday that Russia had come to an agreement with Israel on the withdrawal of Iranian forces. The deal will have all Iranian forces at least 85 kilometers from the Golan Heights.
Israel has since denied that this was a deal, and said they consider the pullback “inadequate.” It would be surprising if Israel had taken this deal, as they’d rejected a near identical Russian offer of a 100 kilometer buffer just a week ago.
Israel has demanded Iranian forces be removed wholly from Syria. This includes, by Israel’s reckoning, all Shi’ite forces, which is how they estimate Iran to have vastly more troops in Syria than they really do. Russia has rejected this, saying they can’t force Iran to leave.
This hope was that getting Iran’s actual forces away from the Golan Heights would be enough to convince Israel to stop attacking Syrian military sites. All indications are that despite this move, Israel’s attacks are likely to continue.
Syria needs to turn to the Chinese instead of the Russians for their air defense systems.
What chutzpah!
Israel’s continuing occupation of the stolen Golan seems to be quite acceptable.
I’ve seen this in private negotiations. Israel rejected 100 km as not enough, so they were offered only 85. If they don’t take that, they’ll be offered 50 or 60. They’ll keep losing until they deal. This is how Israel treats the Palestinians, so they should recognize it.
Long past the time to pull the plug in the ungrateful Welfare Queen.
Israel was never going to accept any deal because there is no downside for them if they don’t Their attacks on Syria have nothing to do with “too many Iranians” and never did. Russia had nothing to offer Israel to get them to stop attacking Syria except to escalate a military response, which Russia would prefer not to do unless absolutely necessary. As long as Israel attacks on Syria are mostly pin-pricks, Russia will not escalate the situation. We’d all like to see them do so, but Russia prefers to maintain reasonable diplomatic relations with Israel. That’s just the way it is.
The whole situation is a side-show and not particularly relevant to the ultimate outcome in Syria.
The next question is what Turkey will do when the SAA invades Idlib, bypasses the Turkish outposts, and Russia tells Turkey “sit tight and you won’t get bombed by us.” Because then Turkey will have to leave the areas of Syria they’re currently occupying and Erdogan doesn’t want to. But if he wants Russian S-400 systems, that’s the only way he’ll get them.
You’re absolutely right on all accounts, mate, Israel’s never going to accept any deal because there’s no downside for them if they don’t; their attacks on Syria have nothing to do with “too many Iranians”, and never did; and Russia had nothing to offer Israel to get them to quit attacking Syria except to escalate a military response, which Russia would prefer not to do unless absolutely necessary. As you rightly said, as long as Israeli attack on Syria are mostly pin-pricks, Russia won’t escalate the situation. We’d all like to see them do so, but Russia prefers to maintain reasonable diplomatic relations with Israel, that’s the way it is, folks.
The next question is what Turkey will do when the SAA invades Idlib, bypasses the Turkish outposts, and Russia tell Turkey “sight tight and you won’t be bombed by us.” Because then, Turkey will have to leave the areas of Syria they’re currently occupying, and Erdogan doesn’t want to do it; but if he wants Russian S-400 systems, that’s the only way he’ll get them. You’re absolutely right.
Russia coming to an agreement with Israel on Iranian forces in Syria. You need a scorecard.
Silly Putin, peace is for kids. Israel kills kids.