Israeli aircraft attacked an Iranian base outside Damascus according to Sky News. According to foreign media reports, the Israeli fire was carried out from Lebanese airspace. The reports said that in response anti aircraft missiles were fired on the plane. In the past, Israel has reportedly carried out attacks against Syrian convoys and installations, in order to prevent Syria from transferring sophisticated weapons to Iran's local proxy Hezbollah. Recently, Israeli officials have said that the IDF would not allow Iran to establish a military foothold within 40 Kilometers of the border. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has told Israel that Moscow has agreed to expand a buffer zone along the Israeli-Syrian border, where Iranian and Hezbollah forces will not be allowed to enter. The statement attributed to an Israeli diplomatic official by London-based Asharq Al-Awsat, said Russia had refused the Israeli request for a 40 kilometers (25 miles) buffer zone, but expressed willingness to extend a 10-15 kilometer off-limits zone. In September the BBC news agency reported that Iran had established a military base at a Syrian army site south of the capital of Damascus. According to the report, which is based on a western intelligence source, the base is some 50 kilometers north of Israel's Golan Heights and has several buildings which likely house soldiers and military vehicles. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has repeatedly warned of Iranian entrenchment in the war-torn country, saying in mid-November that Israel “will simply not allow for Shiite consolidation and Iranian entrenchment in Syria nor will we allow Syria to become a forward operating base against the State of Israel.
