Israeli FM Warns Iran over Presence in Syria, Reassures Russia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) meets with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid (R) in Moscow, Russia, 09 September 2021. EPA/ALEXANDER NEMENOV/POOL
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) meets with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid (R) in Moscow, Russia, 09 September 2021. EPA/ALEXANDER NEMENOV/POOL
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Israeli FM Warns Iran over Presence in Syria, Reassures Russia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) meets with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid (R) in Moscow, Russia, 09 September 2021. EPA/ALEXANDER NEMENOV/POOL
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) meets with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid (R) in Moscow, Russia, 09 September 2021. EPA/ALEXANDER NEMENOV/POOL

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has lashed out at Iran over its military presence in Syria after meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.

Lapid agreed with Lavrov to launch a coordination mechanism to enhance military understanding between Moscow and Tel Aviv.

The Israeli foreign minister said there wouldn't be stability in Syria, or the broader Middle East, as long as Iran is present.

He called Tehran "the world's number one exporter of terror."

He added that Israel will not "sit quietly by while Iran builds terror bases on our northern border or while Iran supplies advanced weapons to terror organizations."

However, Lapid said Tel Aviv recognizes Moscow's "key interests in the region" and asserts it is keen to maintain the security of the Russian military in Syria.

"It is very important for us to make sure that no matter what happens in Syria, the Russian military will not be harmed," Lapid said.

In response to a question about Moscow's position on the Israeli raids in Syria, Lapid said that Tel Aviv is working very closely with its Russian partners to avoid a dangerous escalation.

Lapid's escalatory statement came after he reached an agreement with Lavrov to enhance coordination in various aspects.

However, despite this announcement, Moscow still opposes Israeli raids in Syria.

Russia had called upon Israel to deal with "new rules" of engagement in Syria, including informing Moscow of any detected threats, which the Russian army responds to, without the need for military intervention from Tel Aviv.

Lavrov stressed during his meeting with Lapid that ensuring Israel's security is a major priority for Moscow in Syria.

He indicated that Israel's security is a legitimate interest, adding: "We always emphasize that for us, this is one of the key priorities in the Syrian case as well as in other conflicts."

"Russia believes… [in] the territorial integrity of Syria," said Lavrov, adding that "Syria has the right to define the future of its nation."

Lavrov did not mention Iran in his statement, but noted that he and Lapid had discussed the situation in Syria.



South Korean Plane Crash Report Says Bird Remains Were Found in Engines, but No Cause Yet Revealed 

The wreckage of the Jeju Air aircraft that went off the runway and crashed lies at Muan International Airport, in Muan, South Korea, December 30, 2024. (Reuters)
The wreckage of the Jeju Air aircraft that went off the runway and crashed lies at Muan International Airport, in Muan, South Korea, December 30, 2024. (Reuters)
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South Korean Plane Crash Report Says Bird Remains Were Found in Engines, but No Cause Yet Revealed 

The wreckage of the Jeju Air aircraft that went off the runway and crashed lies at Muan International Airport, in Muan, South Korea, December 30, 2024. (Reuters)
The wreckage of the Jeju Air aircraft that went off the runway and crashed lies at Muan International Airport, in Muan, South Korea, December 30, 2024. (Reuters)

The first report on last month’s Jeju Air crash in South Korea confirmed bird strikes in the plane's engines, though officials haven’t determined the cause of the accident that killed all but two of the 181 people on board.

The preliminary accident report released Monday said feathers and bird blood stains were found in both engines.

“The samples were sent to specialized organizations for DNA analysis, and a domestic organization identified them as belonging to Baikal Teals,” the report said, referring to a migratory duck.

The report also said the plane's black box stopped recording about 4 minutes before the crash.

South Korea earlier announced that it will remove a concrete structure at the end of the airport's runway that was involved in the crash.

Some experts have said that Muan International Airport’s localizer — a set of antennas in a concrete structure that guide aircraft during landings — likely made the crash of the Jeju Air plane worse.

The Boeing 737-800 skidded off the airport’s runaway on Dec. 29 after its landing gear failed to deploy, slamming into the concrete structure and bursting into flames. Many observers said the structure should have been made with lighter materials that could break more easily upon impact.

Investigators have said that air traffic controllers warned the pilot about possible bird strikes two minutes before the aircraft issued a distress signal confirming that a bird strike had occurred, after which the pilot attempted an emergency landing.