Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The former informed the latter of first airstrike in Syria.Photo: Israeli government.

JNS.org – Russia notified Israel ahead of its first airstrike in Syria against the Islamic State terrorist group, marking a new chapter in the ongoing bloody Syrian civil war.

Russian warplanes on Wednesday struck Islamic State military equipment, communication centers, vehicles, and ammunition near Homs, Russian Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said. U.S. officials disputed the claim, saying the airstrike near Homs did not target Islamic State, but instead other rebel groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Senior Israeli defense officials, including National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen, were notified of the airstrike. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sept. 20 to discuss Russia’s new military endeavor in Syria.

According to Netanyahu, both sides “established a mechanism” in order to “prevent misunderstandings” between Israeli and Russian forces in the region. This includes the establishment of a working group that would coordinate Syria-related activities in aerial, naval, and electromagnetic arenas, Israeli defense officials said.