Russia Urges Israel to Avoid Airstrikes Near Syrian Base

Russia has requested that Israel refrain from airstrikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon near one of its military bases in Syria, according to a senior official on Wednesday.

In mid-October, Syrian state media reported Israeli strikes on Latakia, a city that serves as a stronghold for President Bashar al-Assad, who is backed by Russia and, in turn, supports Hezbollah. Latakia’s airport is also located near Hmeimim, where Russia maintains an air base.

Alexander Lavrentiev, the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy to the Near East, confirmed to RIA Novosti that Israel had indeed conducted an airstrike close to Hmeimim. Lavrentiev explained that Russian officials informed Israel that such actions, which could endanger Russian personnel, are unacceptable and expressed hope that the October incident would not be repeated.

Israel has frequently targeted Syria with airstrikes but seldom strikes in Latakia, located northwest of Damascus. Israel accuses Hezbollah of using Syria as a transit route for weapons, and direct confrontations between the two intensified after Israel’s Gaza conflict with Hamas—an ally of Hezbollah—escalated the broader regional tensions.

Lavrentiev clarified that Russia’s air base is not used to supply Hezbollah with weapons. While Israel has intensified strikes in Syria and Lebanon, it has launched hundreds of attacks in Syria since the country’s civil war began in 2011, mainly targeting Syrian government forces and groups backed by Iran, including Hezbollah fighters who support Assad’s regime. Though Israel seldom comments on these actions, it has emphasized it will not permit Iran to establish a foothold in Syria.