Benjamin Netanyahu told Russian President Vladimir
Putin on Wednesday that Israel was prepared to act unilaterally to
prevent an expanded Iranian military presence in Syria.
Israel
fears an eventual Assad victory could leave Iran with a permanent
garrison in Syria, extending a threat posed from neighboring Lebanon by
the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
Meeting Putin in
the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Netanyahu said Iran was fighting to
cement an arc of influence from the Gulf to the Mediterranean.
"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," Netanyahu said.
"Israel opposes Iran's continued entrenchment in Syria. We will be sure
to defend ourselves with all means against this and any threat."
