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Israel Cannot Rely on Russian Promises regarding Iranian Deployment in Syria

(Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University) Eldad Shavit, Zvi Magen, Vera Michlin-Shapir, and Udi Dekel - In spite of Russian interest in principle in the removal of Iranian forces from Syria, it is hard at the moment to identify a substantive Russian desire or ability to prevent the deployment of Iran and its proxies in southern Syria. Agreements regarding southern Syria do not, in any event, provide a sufficient response to Iran's ongoing efforts to deploy forces deep inside Syria and position advanced weapon systems there. The likelihood that the Trump-Putin summit will succeed in promoting meaningful change in the balance of developments in Syria is not great. Israel must continue to maneuver with Russia, and perhaps also with the U.S., particularly with respect to delaying the rapid withdrawal of American forces from Syria without guarantees for the removal of the Iranians. Time after time, Russia has failed to honor its commitments in Syria, and it would therefore be a mistake for the U.S. to evacuate its forces and rely on Russia before there is clear evidence that Iranian forces and proxies have left the country and dismantled their military infrastructures as well as their rocket and air defense systems.
2018-07-19 00:00:00
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