Netanyahu seeks to calm Israeli concerns over US Syria pullout

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought yesterday to calm domestic concerns over US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from Syria, saying his country will still act against Iran there.

Netanyahu will also reportedly meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo when he travels to Brazil for the January 1 inauguration of new president Jair Bolsonaro.

The prime minister’s office has not confirmed the meeting reported by Israeli media.

Trump last week said the Islamic State group had been defeated and he was withdrawing the United States’ 2,000 troops from Syria.

Israel has seen the US presence in neighbouring Syria as a bulwark against its main enemy Iran and a counterweight to Russia.

Both Russia and Iran support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in the country’s civil war.

“The decision to remove the 2,000 US soldiers from Syria won’t change our consistent policy,” Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting.

“We will continue to act against Iran’s attempt to establish a military presence in Syria, and if the need arises, we will even expand our activities there.”

He added that he wanted to “calm those concerned”.

“Our cooperation with the United States continues full-force, and takes place in many fields—the operational field, the intelligence field, and many other security fields.”

Separately, Israel’s military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot told a conference on Sunday that the US decision was “a significant event but it should not be overstated”.

“For decades we’ve been handling this front alone,” Eisenkot said. Trump’s decision to withdraw from Syria—as well as reduce forces in Afghanistan—led US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis to quit in disagreement.

 

Netanyahu seeks to calm Israeli concerns over US Syria pullout

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought yesterday to calm domestic concerns over US President Donald Trumps decision to withdraw from Syria, saying his country will still act against Iran there. Netanyahu will also reportedly meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo when he travels to Brazil for the January 1 inauguration of new president Jair Bolsonaro. The prime ministers office has not confirmed the meeting reported by Israeli media. Trump last week said the Islamic State group had been defeated and he was withdrawing the United States 2,000 troops from Syria. Israel has seen the US presence in neighbouring Syria as a bulwark against its main enemy Iran and a counterweight to Russia. Both Russia and Iran support Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime in the countrys civil war. The decision to remove the 2,000 US soldiers from Syria wont change our consistent policy, Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting. We will continue to act against Irans attempt to establish a military presence in Syria, and if the need arises, we will even expand our activities there. He added that he wanted to calm those concerned. Our cooperation with the United States continues full-force, and takes place in many fieldsthe operational field, the intelligence field, and many other security fields. Separately, Israels military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot told a conference on Sunday that the US decision was a significant event but it should not be overstated. For decades weve been handling this front alone, Eisenkot said. Trumps decision to withdraw from Syriaas well as reduce forces in Afghanistanled US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis to quit in disagreement.