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Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on July 28 to discuss various developments in the Middle East, including recent sectarian violence in Syria and Iran’s nuclear program.
During the call, Putin “emphasized the importance of supporting the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity” of Syria, said a Kremlin statement.
The Russian leader added that the political stability in the country must be achieved through respect for “all ethnic and religious groups’ interests.”
More than 1,400 people were reportedly killed earlier this month in sectarian clashes between forces loyal to Syria’s Islamist-led government and Druze fighters in al-Suwayda in southern Syria. Israel intervened in support of the Druze, citing its historic ties with the religious minority group, and forced the government to accept a ceasefire agreement .
To this day, Russia maintains two bases in Latakia and Tartus on the Syrian coast, where a sectarian-fueled government crackdown claimed the lives of more than 1,600 civilians from the Alawite religious minority group last March. Sectarian tensions remain high there.
Also during the call, Putin again offered to mediate in talks on Iran’s nuclear program, after negotiations ground to a halt last month, when Israel launched its surprise attack on the Islamic Republic.
Russia and Israel have for years maintained high-level contact to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. Last July, Israel’s Kan public broadcaster reported that Israel was conducting under-the-radar diplomatic talks with Russia concerning both Syria and Iran.
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