Israel, Russia agree on steps to avert accidental clashes near Syria: Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel and Russia have agreed on a coordinating mechanism to avert accidental clashes between the Israeli military and Russian forces deployed in neighboring Syria.

Netanyahu told Israeli media after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow that the understandings reached regarding the mechanism would prevent clashes between Israeli and Russian forces is "very important for Israel's security," the Ha'aretz daily reported.

The Israeli prime minister said he also raised concerns in his meeting with Putin regarding the arming of Hezbollah and militant groups in Syria by Iran that could be used against Israel.

"Israel would continue to take action to prevent the transfer of lethal weapons from Syria and Iran to Hezbollah, and thwart Iranian attempts to carry out terror attacks against Israel in the Golan Heights (in northern Israel)," Netanyahu was quoted as saying.

Over the past few years, Israel reportedly carried out several air strikes in Syria against convoys allegedly transferring weapons in the area. The reports were never officially confirmed by Israel.

Israel and Hezbollah have been long-time enemies and fought a devastating war in 2006. Israel considers Iran and its nuclear program an "existential threat" to Israel.

The latest visit to Russia was Netanyahu's first since 2013. Senior Israeli military officials also attended the two-and-a-half- hour meeting in the Kremlin, which came several days after reports of a growing Russian military presence in Syria. Endit