The Business Insider UK reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin called his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and warned the country against airstrikes in Syria.
The Kremlin released a statement verifying the call, and said Putin "emphasized the importance of respecting Syria’s sovereignty" and called on the Israeli Prime Minister to "refrain" taking action to that could "further destabilize the situation in the country and threaten its security," according to the newspaper.
The two leaders discussed the recent aerial attack on T-4 airbase in Homs, Syria, which reportedly killed at least 14 people. Russia has accused Israel of leading the strike, an allegation that Israel has neither confirmed nor denied.
Haaretz newspaper reported that Israeli officials confirmed the call, adding that Netanyahu said Israel would act to prevent Iran's military presence in Syria. News of the phone call came as Netanyahu delivered a speech for Israel's Holocaust Memorial Day in which he brazenly threatened Iran not to ''test Israel's resolve," according to Business Insider.