Haaretz: Israel in secret negotiations encouraged the US and Russia to pressure Iran to leave Syria
TASS, 9 Aug. Diplomats of Israel, the US and Russia conducted in early July, secret talks on the ceasefire and identifying areas of de-escalation in the South of Syria.
Three rounds of consultations held in the Jordanian capital, as well as in one of the European capitals, said Wednesday the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, citing sources in the foreign Ministry of Israel and unnamed Western countries.
According to the publication, Israeli diplomats were strongly against the agreement in the zones of de-escalation, as the representatives of Moscow and Washington, in their view, did not pay attention to the growing influence of Iran in the region.
Israel has urged Moscow and Washington to demand the withdrawal from Syria of Iranian forces, fighters of Hezbollah and Pro-Tehran Shiite militias.
“The main subject of negotiations was the desire of Israel to maintain the cease-fire on a long term basis and to determine the extent of the future influence of Iran in Syria at the end of the civil war. The Americans and the Russians were focused on something else: removing IG (banned terrorist group “Islamic state”) and the early stabilization of the situation, the newspaper writes. Israel is concerned that Syria could become a rocket base and a potential threat to him and Jordan from Iran.”