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Russia Says Iranian Forces Will Pull Back From Israeli Border, But Jerusalem Remains Wary

REUTERS/Ammar Awad

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Will Racke Immigration and Foreign Policy Reporter
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Most of the Iranian-backed forces operating near Israel’s Golan Heights will withdraw to over 50 miles inside the Syria-Israel border, Russia’s ambassador to Syria said Wednesday.

The agreement to pull back Iranian forces was reached “with Russian guarantees,” Alexander Lavrentyev was quoted as saying by Russia’s Interfax news agency Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.

A separate Russian news outlet, TASS, reported that Lavrentyev said the deal includes withdrawing Iranian heavy weapons to a distance of 85 km — 53 miles — from the Golan Heights border between Israel and Syria.

“The Iranians withdrew and the Shiite formations are not there,” Lavrentyev said Wednesday, according to Reuters. He added that some Iranian “advisers” could remain closer to the frontier.

Russia’s announcement of a possible Iranian withdrawal comes two days after the Syrian army — backed by Russian and Iranian forces — regained full control of former rebel-held territory in southwestern Syria. The Syrian offensive has brought Iranian-backed militia in close proximity to the Israeli border, a situation Jerusalem views as an intolerable security threat. (RELATED: ‘White Helmets’ Rescuers Evacuated As Assad Nears Total Victory In South Syria)

As Assad has consolidated his gains in recent months, Israel has stepped up its strikes against suspected Iranian targets inside Syria. Tehran has embedded military advisers with Syrian army units and supports the Shiite militias fighting with Syrian troops.

Reacting to reports of a Russia-brokered withdrawal of Iranian forces, many Israeli leaders said the move did not go far enough.

“What we have laid down as a red line is military intervention and entrenchment by Iran in Syria, and not necessarily on our border,” Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi said, according to Reuters.

Russia’s envoy to Israel, Anatoly Viktorov, said Russia cannot force Iran to completely leave Syria. He signaled, however, that Moscow will look the other way when Jerusalem launches strikes against suspected Iranian targets or arms transfers to Hezbollah.

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