Netanyahu: We Will Continue Actions Against Iran's Military Presence in Syria

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, stated on Wednesday, September 7, that the Israeli Defense Forces will resolutely continue their actions against the Islamic Republic's efforts to establish forces and weapons in Syria. This comes as Iran's defense minister visited Syria this week, where the two countries signed a new military cooperation agreement. According to Reuters, Netanyahu, speaking in Dimona, southern Israel, said, "Those who threaten us with annihilation should know that they are also putting themselves at similar risk and will not achieve their goal." Although the Israeli Prime Minister did not specifically name a country, Iranian officials have consistently threatened Israel with destruction since the 1979 revolution. The Iranian government also supports Islamist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Meanwhile, since the onset of protests in Syria, Iran has been one of the main allies of Bashar al-Assad's government in the country's civil war. According to Netanyahu, Iran's military involvement in the Syrian civil war is akin to the establishment of Iranian forces along Israel's borders. In recent years, Israel has repeatedly attacked positions of Iranian forces and Hezbollah in Syria. Netanyahu also stated on Wednesday: "The Israeli Defense Forces will continue their determined and decisive actions against Iran's efforts to establish forces and advanced weapon systems in Syria." While Netanyahu has warned about Iran's military presence in Syria, Iran's defense minister said after meeting with Bashar al-Assad that despite U.S. pressures for withdrawal, Iran's military presence in Syria will continue. Amir Hatami, Iran's defense minister, visited Syria on September 4 and 5 and signed a military cooperation agreement with his Syrian counterpart. He stated that "the most important clauses of this agreement involve the modernization of the Syrian armed forces," and Iran will continue its assistance to Syria. The Iranian state news agency IRNA quoted Abolqasem Alinajad, Iran's military attaché in Syria, stating that "the continued presence of Iranian military advisors in Syria is part of this military cooperation agreement between the two countries." Throughout the seven-year Syrian civil war, the Islamic Republic of Iran has supported Bashar al-Assad's government by sending weapons and forces. Meanwhile, John Bolton, the U.S. National Security Advisor, reiterated last week Washington's demand for the complete withdrawal of Iranian forces from Syrian territory. The U.S. President stated that, in addition to Iran's nuclear and missile programs, one of the reasons for the resumption of sanctions against Tehran is Iran's actions in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Israel has accused the Iranian government of seeking a permanent military presence in Syrian territory. In contrast, the Iranian government has repeatedly emphasized that its military presence in Syria is at the request of Bashar al-Assad's government and has no intention of withdrawing in the near future. Since 2012, over a thousand Iranian forces, including several senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, have been killed in Syria.