Russia insists that Israel refrain from carrying out airstrikes near the Russian air base in Syria, President Vladimir Putin's envoy said today, quoted by France Press and BTA.
Such an incident already happened in October. In the middle of last month, Syrian state media reported an Israeli airstrike against the port city of Latakia, near which the Russian air force base "Hmeimim" is located. Latakia is one of the strongholds of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who supports the Hezbollah group. Assad receives support from Russia after the start of the civil war in Syria.
"Israel did carry out an airstrike in the immediate vicinity of the “Hmeimim“ base, said today the special envoy of the Russian president for the Middle East, Alexander Lavrentiev, in an interview with the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
„Our military, of course, informed the Israeli authorities that such actions, which could endanger the lives of Russian servicemen there, are unacceptable,”, he added.
Lavrentiev expressed hope that incidents similar to those of last month will not be repeated.
The Israeli Air Force carries out intensive strikes on Syria, but rarely attacks the city of Latakia, notes AFP.
Israel accuses the pro-Iranian movement "Hezbollah" for transporting weapons from Syria to Lebanon.
„We do not provide our supply base to the Lebanese group”, stressed Alexander Lavrentiev.
Israel has stepped up its attacks in Syria, continuing its intense strikes against "Hezbollah" in Lebanon.
Since Syria's civil war broke out in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes against the Syrian army and Tehran-backed movements, including Hezbollah, which support Bashar al-Assad's government forces.
Israeli authorities rarely provide information about the strikes, stressing only that they will not allow Iran to expand its presence in Syria.