Expert explains why Israel can only count on Russia in Syria

Tel Aviv city of Israel. Photo: CCO

In northern Israel, the situation between Tel Aviv, Damascus and Tehran has become the most serious and without the involvement of a mediator the situation will become much worse, - the Spanish television station RTVE quotes the opinion of Israeli analyst Ofer Salzberg.

According to Israeli experts, Russia is the only country that can play a mediating role, helping the parties avoid a full-scale military conflict.

"I think Russia is the only power in Syria that has the ability to help the parties reach a mutual understanding that reduces the risk of a larger confrontation," he said.

On February 10, the Israeli military announced that it had intercepted an Iranian drone in the north of the country and retaliated by attacking a base in the Palmyra area, but encountered anti-aircraft fire and lost an F-16 fighter jet.

The pilots of the F-16s ejected and landed in Israeli territory. In the ensuing strike, the Israeli military said, they destroyed 12 Syrian and Iranian military targets near Damascus, including several artillery batteries.

According to Israeli Air Force Commander General Tomer Bar, the country's air campaign on February 10 was the largest confrontation with Syrian air defense forces since 1982.

Russia calls on all parties involved to exercise restraint to avoid conflicts and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and other countries in the region.

In an interview with Sputnik, Vladimir Fitin, Director of the Middle East Center at the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, explained why Russia is the only country that, in theory, is capable of resolving the Israel-Iran conflict in Syria.

According to Vladimir Fitin, in Syria, Russia is the only country that can somehow influence Iran and Israel is well aware of that. The US is confronting Iran, the relationship between the two countries may even worsen, so Washington cannot influence Tehran.

"Looking at the enormous amount of work that Russia has done in Syria and its important role in defeating IS, Israel realizes that Russia has the greatest prestige and capabilities in Syria, so it can only rely on Russia in coordinating various sensitive issues," - said Vladimir Fitin.