Local Editor

As reports of increased Russian military assistance to Syria, "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Moscow Monday to seek reassurance from President Vladimir Putin.

With fighter planes part of the rapid Russian build-up, "Israel" is worried about the threat of fire accidentally being traded with Russian forces.

A former strategic adviser to Netanyahu said the "Israeli" leader would try to work out "ground rules" with Putin about avoiding such clashes.

"It could come down to "Israel" and Russia agreeing to limit themselves to defined areas of operation in Syria, or even that they fly at daytime and we fly at night," said the ex-adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Netanyahu took along top "Israeli" generals for his talks with Putin.

"Israel" also fears that the top-of-the-line Russian military hardware may reach also to Hizbullah.

Sources close to Netanyahu said he would present "Israeli" intelligence accounts of past transfers of arms, some of them Russian-supplied, to Hizbullah, and seek reassurances Moscow would maintain control of its latest reinforcements.

"What's important is Putin's commitment not to get mixed up in arming Hizbullah, which should help "Israel", if it goes in there, to keep a safe distance from the Russians. It is pretty clear that Putin is not looking for a fight with "Israel"," Netanyahu's former adviser said.

The Kremlin has said Putin and Netanyahu would discuss "the relevant issues of bilateral cooperation and international agenda" during their meeting in the president's residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, near Moscow.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team