Date: Feb 28, 2019 Source: The Daily Star Israeli PM vows to bar Iran from securing presence in Syria MOSCOW: Israel's prime minister vowed to prevent Iran from securing a lasting presence in Syria as he visited Moscow Wednesday for talks focusing on regional security. Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the start of Wednesday's talks that "it's very important to discuss the situation in the region and security issues." He added that the high-level consultations are essential in view of the evolving situation. Benjamin Netanyahu began the talks by reaffirming Israel's strong determination to block attempts by Iran to establish a foothold in Syria. "The greatest threat to stability and security in the region comes from Iran and its satellites," Netanyahu said in opening remarks translated into Russian before closed-door negotiations. "We are determined to continue with our aggressive action against the efforts of Iran, which calls for our destruction, and against its attempts to entrench militarily in Syria." The Israeli prime minister said talks with Putin were "very important" to ensure Israel's freedom to act against Iran and Hezbollah in Syria while avoiding frictions with Russian forces. He is accompanied in Moscow by his national security advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat and head of military intelligence Tamir Heiman. Wednesday's talks, which Israel postponed by several days, are the first extended face-to-face meeting since September 17, when Syria's air defense systems took down a Russian plane by mistake during an Israeli air force operation. The resultant deaths of 15 Russian troops caused serious tensions between Israel and Russia. Netanyahu and Putin have spoken several times since the incident, and had a brief encounter in Paris in November. Netanyahu said his primary goal in Moscow was "to ensure that the Russian military and the IDF [Israel Defense Force] coordinate in such a manner so as to prevent friction and clashes between us," he said Wednesday. Moscow has played a delicate diplomatic game of maintaining friendly ties with both Israel and Iran. Last summer, Moscow struck a deal with Tehran to keep its fighters away from the Golan Heights to accommodate Israeli concerns about the Iranian presence in Syria. Netanyahu noted that he and Putin had 11 meetings since September 2015 and hailed "the direct, open and true way in which we maintain the relationship between Russia and Israel." "The direct connection between us has been an essential element that has prevented risks and conflicts between our militaries, and that has contributed to regional security and stability," the Israeli leader said. Netanyahu congratulated Putin on the military holiday Russia marked last weekend and invited him to visit Israel to attend the opening of a monument to the Nazi siege of Leningrad during World War II. "We will never forget the role of Russia and the Red Army in the victory over the Nazis," he said. Putin, a native of the city, accepted the offer. Netanyahu praised "excellent bilateral relations," noting "more than one million Russian speakers who have made a great contribution to Israel, have turned into a part of us, and have made Russian culture a part of Israeli culture."