Russian, Israeli defense ministers discuss situation in S. Syria’s de-escalation zone

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu discussed a de-escalation zone in southern Syria with Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Moscow on Thursday. Everything concerning the work on the border between Syria and Jordan was to be discussed, where Russia has an agreement with Amman and Washington, TASS quoted Shoigu as saying. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday the withdrawal of all non-Syrian forces from Syria’s southern border with Israel should happen as soon as possible. During a visit to Moscow, Lieberman was due to address Iran’s alleged increasing military presence in Syria, according to the Times of Israel. Lieberman tweeted that “the primary focus of the defense establishment is preventing the entrenchment of Iran and its proxies in Syria.”