Bashar al-Assad’s forces allowed to take remaining rebel territory in southern Syria after the special agreement between Russia and Israel, These countries decided to give Assad such an opportunity so long as Iranian militia don’t participate.
Last weekend, Israel and Iran have reportedly held a secret meeting to discuss the deteriorating situation on the Syrian border, while Russia said on Monday only Syrian army troops should be on the country’s southern frontiers, which appeared to be directed at Iran.
Moscow has agreed to Israeli demands that Iranian-backed militia brigades be held back from the border with the occupied Golan Heights, according to Israeli TV. Saudi source on mass media reported the Assad regime had agreed that Iranian militias would stay 25 kilometres away. Russia has also agreed not to try to stop Israeli bombing raids on Iranian bases and militias elsewhere in the country.
In return, Israel will not try to stop President Assad’s forces retaking the rebel-held areas which abut the Golan Heights, according to Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. Both Russia and Iran have played pivotal roles in helping reverse Assad’s fortunes, and Faisal Mekdad, Syria’s deputy foreign minister, has reassured Tehran that a pullout is not up for discussion.
