Beirut: Russia and Israel have reportedly reached a deal that would allow Syrian forces to take rebel territory in southern Syria, as long as Iranian troops do not participate in the offensive and stay 24 kilometres back from Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
In return, Israel will not stand in the way of any Syrian regime offensive on the city of Deraa and other territory along the Israeli and Jordanian border.
Last month, Israel fired a volley of missiles at Iranian positions in the area and in Damascus, triggering the Syrian air defence system into action
News of the deal comes as the Syrian army is said to have completed preparations for an imminent offensive against rebels in the area.
Read the article by Josie Ensor in The Sydney Morning Herald.