Russia says Iranian militias in Syria to be kept 85 km from Israel

Russia’s chief Syrian regime negotiator said in an interview Wednesday that his country convinced the Iranian militias in Syria to withdraw to at least 85 kilometers (53 miles) from the Israeli border, despite Israel’s insistence that no Iranian militias be permitted anywhere in the country.

Alexander Lavrentyev told Sputnik news site, “We took into account the Israeli concerns, we managed to attain the pullout of Iranian "units" 85 kilometers (53 miles) from the Israeli border.”

Asked if Israel was becoming less concerned over the pro-Iranian units’ presence near its border, Lavrentyev replied: “Yes, of course, we are certain of this.”

It was not clear what prompted him to say this as Israel has repeatedly and forcefully stated that it will not accept any Iranian presence at all in Syria.

Last week Israel rejected a Russian proposal to keep Iranian forces in Syria 100 kilometers (62 miles) away from Israel’s northern border, a senior Israeli official said, moments after a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded in Jerusalem.