Russia and Israel ‘reach a deal’ with Assad on Syrian territory

RUSSIA and Israel have reportedly reached a deal that would allow Bashar al-assad’s forces to take remaining rebel territory in southern Syria, as long as Iranian troops do not participate in the offensive.

Moscow appears to have capitulated to Israeli demands to hold Tehranbacked militias 15 miles back from the occupied Golan Heights, according to Israeli and Saudi reports.

In return, Israel will not stand in the way of any Syrian regime offensive on the city of Deraa and territory along the Israeli and Jordanian border.

Russia said on Monday only Syrian army troops should be on the country’s southern frontier, which appeared to be directed at Tehran.

The deal is said to have been finalised in a phonecall days earlier between Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli defence minister, and Sergei Shoigu, his Russian counterpart. It averts possible direct confrontation between Iran and Israel in Syria, where tensions have heightened between the foes in recent months.

At the same time, it reveals a growing rift between Moscow and Tehran, which back the same side in the conflict.

According to Israeli sources, Russia has grown increasingly frustrated with Iran’s presence in Syria and is worried that fighting between Israel and Iran threatens its hard-fought victories.

Iran is estimated to have thousands of advisers and fighters in Syria as well as a number of bases, which have become regular targets for Israel attacks.

Israel, which is also said to have received assurances from Moscow that it will not try to stop any future strikes on Iranian targets, is concerned about Iran and allied Hizbollah’s growing arsenal on its doorstep.

Both Russia and Iran have played pivotal roles in helping reverse Assad’s fortunes, and Faisal Mekdad, Syria’s deputy foreign minister, last week reassured Tehran that a pullout is not up for discussion.

Deraa is an obvious next target for Assad, who has repeatedly promised to retake every inch of the country.

The only other major opposition stronghold, in Idlib in the north-west, is fraught with complications because of the presence of Turkish troops in the area.

Fighting in south-west Syria has been contained since last year by a “de-escalation” agreement brokered by Russia, the US and Jordan.