All non-Syrian forces must be pulled back from the border with Israel in the south of Syria as soon as possible, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters in Moscow this week, according to a Wednesday TASS report.
“We have well-known agreements concerning the southwestern de-escalation zone,” Lavrov said. “Those agreements were concluded by Russia, the United States and Jordan. Israel was perfectly aware of them while they were still being drafted. They stipulate that the zone of de-escalation is expected to consolidate stability and that all non-Syrian forces must be pulled out of that area. I believe this must happen as soon as possible. This is precisely what we are busy with now in cooperation with our Jordanian and US counterparts.”
Lavrov failed to mention that the original layout for the “de-escalation zone” at Israel’s doorstep had been designed by Russia, Turkey, and Iran, and authorized an Iranian military presence some three miles away from Israel’s Golan Heights border. Now, happily, Moscow is changing its tune, adding its voice to Israel’s demand that Iranian forces go home.
The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the area north of the Israeli border is under the control of various rebel forces, including Syrian opposition group Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State, which receive support from the US and from Israel.