Russia’s vocal criticism of Israel’s latest airstrikes in Syria is a not-so-veiled warning to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to avoid any unnecessary escalation following US President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out US troops. Israeli fighter jets attacked two Hezbollah bases and alleged missile warehouses on Tuesday, killing several fighters. The Russian Defense Ministry promptly responded by accusing Israel of endangering two civilian flights and praising Syria’s missile defenses.
Why it matters: Tuesday’s action marked the first Israeli attack since Trump announced the US evacuation last week, claiming the Islamic State had been defeated. The move leaves Russia with unparalleled influence in the war-torn country, where Bashar al-Assad’s forces are still competing for power with various rebel factions, terrorist elements and Kurdish nationalists.