Israel raises concern about Iran’s influence in Syria

Israel fired missiles into Syria yesterday in response to a drone incursion in the Golan Heights, raising tensions on the shared border as United States President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin were set to meet to discuss Syria’s fate.

Speculation over a potential bargain between the US and Russia that would limit Iran’s influence in Syria in return for an American withdrawal has been mounting ahead of next week’s summit.

Both Israel and the US are pushing for Russia to use its sway over Bashar alAssad, the Syrian president, to push Iranian troops and its allies, Hizbollah, out of Syria.

But with Syrian forces clearing up the last rebel pockets in the south of the country, the US has little leverage to wield in negotiations.

It is thought that American presence may be used as a bargaining chip. The US could offer to close its base at al-Tanf on the Jordanian border, where many of its estimated 2000 troops in the country are stationed.

On Thursday, Putin met Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, who pleaded with the Russian leader to help ‘‘stabilise the situation’’. Netanyahu expressed his increasing concern about the presence of Iranian-backed troops near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Iran, along with Lebanese militia Hizbollah, has been building up an arsenal of weapons that Israel fears could be used against it.

Israeli forces attacked Syrian military positions near the frontier yesterday morning. The Israeli military said that it hit three targets with Patriot missiles in retaliation for an incursion of a drone which was shot down over northern Israel.