Netanyahu hints at Iran's role near Israel's border in meeting with Putin
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday.
"A few hours ago, a drone entered Israeli airspace from Syria. The drone was successfully targeted and shot down, and we want to make it clear that we will prevent any attempt to violate our airspace and land," Netanyahu said in Moscow, according to Reuters.
Earlier, Ofir Gendelman, the Israeli Prime Minister's spokesman for Arab-language media, who traveled to Moscow with Benjamin Netanyahu, told the Persian service of the Voice of America that his country fully reserves the right to defend itself against threats from Tehran.
He told VOA that the focus of the Israeli Prime Minister's talks with Vladimir Putin will be the situation in Syria and Iran's efforts to establish a military presence in the country.
This is the second time in less than two weeks that Israel says its Patriot missiles targeted a drone.
Israel says the drone, which apparently also flew over Jordan and appears to have been unarmed and used for espionage, was shot down in the foothills of the Golan Heights.
Benjamin Netanyahu is a staunch critic of Iran's actions in the region and calls for an end to Iran's military presence in Syria.
Israeli fighter jets have repeatedly targeted Iranian positions and ammunition depots in Syrian territory.
Some media outlets have considered this trip to coincide with the trip of Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy advisor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Velayati will also meet with the Russian president.
Earlier, media outlets reported that Russia, at Israel's request, had demanded the withdrawal of Iranian forces from Syria.
Source: Voice of America
