"Hot lines" between Moscow and Tel Aviv aim to ensure the Israeli air force can continue its operations in Syrian airspace, despite the growing Russian military presence in the country, in the air and on the ground.
The guidelines for the real-time co-ordination mechanism were decided during a 21 September meeting in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu was accompanied by the Israel defence forces chief of staff Lt Gen Gadi Eizenkot and director of military intelligence Maj Gen Herzl Halevi, as well as national security adviser Yossi Cohen.
Israel is closely following the Russian military build-up in Syria. Satellite imagery shows activity at the Syrian air force's Latakia air base, including reinforcing runways, building helicopter landing pads, deploying mobile housing units and constructing several new buildings, including a new air traffic control tower. They also show the arrival of Sukhoi Su-27 fighters and Russian transport helicopters and helicopter gunships.
Israeli sources suggest that Russia is also likely to deploy surface-to-air missile systems to protect its assets.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
