Russian President Vladimir Putin with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. The leaders will meet next week in Russia. Photo: Facebook.

JNS.org – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week in Moscow.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu is expected to speak with Putin about the stationing of Russian forces in Syria.

Recently, Russia confirmed that Russian “experts” were on the ground in Syria and assisting with arms deliveries. But U.S. defense officials believe that Russia is establishing a forward operating base in Syria. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has repeatedly called his Russia counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a bid to clarify Russia’s intent in the war-torn country.

Netanyahu is expected to discuss the threats posed to Israel from the increased weapons flow to Syria as well as the transfer of deadly weapons to Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations.

This will be the first visit to Moscow by Netanyahu since November 2013.