10 February 2018•Update: 11 February 2018
By Elena Teslova
MOSCOW
Moscow expresses serious concern over attacks carried out by Israel in Syria, according to Russian Foreign Ministry Saturday.
The risk of an escalation in tensions inside the de-escalation zones and around them is of particular concern, a statement published on the Foreign Ministry’s official website said.
Russia urged all parties to show restraint and respect, unconditionally, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and other countries in the region, it said.
“We urge all parties to show restraint and avoid any actions that could lead to further complication of the situation. We consider necessary to respect unconditionally the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and other countries in the region,” it said.
The situation could endanger the life and security of Russian servicemen in Syria, which was “absolutely unacceptable”, it said, adding that the Syrian government forces were complying with existing agreements in the de-escalation zone in the southwest of the country.
Earlier Saturday, army said its forces shot down an Iranian drone launched from Syria and also hit several targets inside the war-torn neighboring country.
Syria’s official SANA news agency, meanwhile, said Syrian anti-aircraft missiles hit more than one Israeli fighter jet flying above its territory.
Later Saturday night, President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed over phone Israeli air force's missile strikes in Syria, according to the Kremlin press office.
“Russian side stated for avoiding any steps that can lead to a new spiral of dangerous confrontation for all in the region,” the statement, published on the Kremlin’s official website, said.
