IDF soldiers look on toward people standing next to the Israel-Syria border fence in the Golan Heights, July 17, 2018. Photo: Reuters / Ronen Zvulun.

JNS.org – An Israeli military strike late on Sunday is being linked with the killing of nine soldiers aligned with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Syrian state media reported that Israel bombed the Al-Nayrab airbase next to Aleppo’s international airport—a position significantly farther north than the majority of previous Israeli airstrikes and one that has been linked to the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least six of those killed were Syrian, with Iranian soldiers also stationed at the base.

Al-Nayrab was hit on April 29 as part of a large mission that targeted weapons depots near Hama. Israel has not commented on the attacks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has conducted two meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent weeks, urging him to take part in removing Iranian military apparatus from Syria. Reports indicate that Moscow has agreed to keep Iran out of the Golan border region.

Putin and US President Donald Trump are set to meet at a US-Russia summit in Helsinki today, where the topics of Syria and Iran are expected to be addressed.