National security adviser holds secret meetings in Moscow

Meir Ben-Shabbat meets with head of Russia’s Security Council Nikolai Patrushev to discuss “new understandings” on the situation in southern Syria following Israel’s request that Russia prevent Iran from gaining a military foothold there.

(June 20, 2018 / Israel Hayom) National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat recently visited Moscow and met with Russia’s Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev and other Russian officials, Channel 10 News reported Tuesday.

The talks reportedly focused on Russia’s request for new understandings regarding southern Syria after Israel asked Russia to prevent Iran from gaining a foothold there.

Meanwhile, U.S. officials confirmed Tuesday that Israel carried out an airstrike in Syria overnight Sunday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that nearly 50 Syrian military personnel had been killed in the strike, which was close to the Syria-Iraq border.