Tel Aviv
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation focused on Iran, Syria, and broader regional developments, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed on Tuesday.
According to a post on X from Netanyahu’s official handle, the leaders discussed Iran’s nuclear program and recent violence in Syria. The Kremlin stated that Putin emphasized the need to uphold Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, while calling for political stability through respect for all ethnic and religious groups.
The call followed Israeli airstrikes earlier this month targeting Syrian military sites in Sweida and Damascus in response to sectarian violence. Clashes in the Druze-majority Sweida province, which erupted on July 13, initially involved Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin tribes. The conflict escalated after Syrian government forces intervened on behalf of the Bedouin. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over 1,400 people, mostly Druze, were killed, including more than 250 civilians who were summarily executed by regime forces.
Despite Russia’s close military ties with Iran, especially amid the ongoing Ukraine war, Moscow has maintained diplomatic relations with Israel. The Times of Israel reported that Russia refrained from backing Iran during the recent 12-day conflict triggered by Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites. Putin also offered to mediate renewed talks on Iran’s nuclear program, which remain stalled. Moscow had previously played a key role in Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal, particularly in removing enriched uranium. No detailed readout was issued from Netanyahu’s office, but reports indicate ongoing quiet diplomacy between Israel and Russia to manage regional tensions.