Israel says it will interfere in Syrian war ‘if Iran continues to gain ground’

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has warned that “while Iran’s presence in Syria grows, Israel will not settle for watching from the sidelines.”

“Israel is not planning to get used to these attempts,” Lieberman said during a discussion with representatives from the Israel Institute of Energy and Environment on Aug. 24, Israeli media reported. 

“Iran, through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is trying to create a new reality around us with air force and navy bases in Syria. It is doing this with Shiite militias that are made up of thousands of mercenaries and by producing smart weapons in Lebanon,” he added. 

Lieberman said Israel “would not hesitate to interfere in the Syrian war in order to prevent Iran from gaining ground in the country.” 

Earlier on the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that Israel was prepared to act unilaterally to prevent an expanded Iranian military presence in Syria.

“Iran is already well on its way to controlling Iraq, Yemen and to a large extent is already in practice in control of Lebanon,” Netanyahu told Putin. 

“We cannot forget for a single minute that Iran threatens every day to annihilate Israel. Israel opposes Iran’s continued entrenchment in Syria. We will be sure to defend ourselves with all means against this and any threat,” he said.