Trump adviser says Israeli airstrikes in Syria is for 'self-defence'

Visiting US National Security Adviser John Bolton on Wednesday defended Israel's deadly airstrikes in Syria as acts of "self-defence".

At a press conference in Jerusalem before concluding his trip, Bolton said the Israeli attacks on Iran-supplied missiles in Syria were "legitimate self-defence" and the US planned to do "other things" also to increase the pressure on Iran, he was cited as saying by Xinhua news agency.

Washington reimposed sanctions on Tehran earlier this month. The US official said he will discuss with Russian officials in Geneva on Thursday a possible joint effort to force Iranian forces to withdraw from Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he "would be glad to see the Iranian forces go back", Bolton said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying with leaders in the US and Europe to oppose the Iranian efforts to establish a military foothold in Syria.

The hawkish US senior official arrived in Israel on Sunday, where he met Netanyahu, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman and other security officials mainly over Iran-related issues.

--IANS

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