Russian President made a surprise visit to Syria: "We rebuilt the country" • An Arab diplomat to "Israel today": "The visit is also intended to quell Assad's regime over Iranian revenge for liquidating Suleimani from its territory" • Trump: "Suleimani - dead monster" • Khamenei To his people: "We will avenge ourselves"
Putin in meeting with Assad in Damascus // Photo: AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday made a surprise visit to Syria and met with his counterpart in the rest of Assad. "We have come a long way in rebuilding Syria," Putin told Assad.
The two visited the Russian forces headquarters in the Syrian capital, Assad gave Putin a Christmas spirit tour around the city - and from there the Russian president took off to visit Istanbul. "The Russians informed us of Putin's arrival in Damascus just hours before his arrival," an Israeli security official said.
Putin on a surprise visit to Syria on Christmas Day // Reuters
According to Arab diplomats, Putin's visit - about two weeks before his visit to Israel - is intended to quell the Syrian administration's concern that in the event of Iranian revenge in Israel over the assassination of Qassem Suleimani, the move will be made from Syria and may result in Israeli-Iranian aggression in Syria.
The officials point out that the visit is intended to convey a clear message to Tehran that those who actually control Syria are devastated, and that Moscow will not allow Tehran to act against the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia from Syria's territory.
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• A surprise visit to Syria: Putin meets with Assad in Damascus
Delivered a message from Israel
Another Arab source in details told Israel Today that Putin has also brought a message from Israel to Assad that as long as Syria does not allow Iranian Revolutionary Guards and its allies to respond to Syrian territory to destroy Suleimani and strike Israeli targets, Israel will avoid damaging civilian infrastructure in Syria and even prevent it Attacking Syrian Army military targets.
The IDF continues to be on high alert, though it is believed that Iranians will act against US forces in the Persian Gulf and Middle East and will not rush to respond against Israel. Still, alertness will be maintained on the Lebanese and Syrian border, as well as in the Air Force - with emphasis on the air defense system.
Meanwhile, US forces in the Middle East have been on high alert for immediate warning of Iranian drones attack, CNN reported. Since the Sulimani assassination, the US has insisted that its decision to eliminate it was part of an attempt to prevent an immediate attack.
Demand for revenge in Iran // Photo: AFP
At the same time, the New York Times reported that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei made it clear to members of the Iranian National Security Council that the response must be direct, without the use of proxy (proxy). Council secretary Ali Shamhani said that "in a session on the elimination response, we proposed 13 scenarios." Iranian Parliament yesterday re-sided with the regime and approved legislation that states US and Pentagon armed forces are terrorist groups. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and expressed concern over the situation in the region.
Washington realizes that Tehran is serious about revenge intentions. "We hope they will not make a bad decision again, but if they do, the president will respond the same way he reacted last week," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.
In front of reporters at the White House, Trump called Suleimani "a monster" and those who planned "a major attack and arrested him." The US president noted that "we have done a great favor to many countries," adding that his country is ready for any Iranian response. Trump concluded that "Suleimani is no longer a monster, he is dead."
