Russian forces warned Israel over IAF flights in Russian controlled airspace near the Syrian–Lebanese border area after Israeli jets were detected nearby, according to a report Friday in the Lebanese media outlet As Safir.

“Russian aircraft immediately blocked the Israeli jets' path while they flew above the Akkar region in northern Lebanon. The Russians immediately sent a clear warning to the Israelis that entering Syrian airspace would be a pretext for opening fire," the source said.

The report comes a mere day after Russia announced that it had established a "hotline" with Israel in order to coordinate aerial activity over Lebanon and Syria.

As Safir quoted Lebanese diplomatic officials who were "in the know," as saying that the warning was issued after Russian radar identified Israeli aircraft approaching Russian-controlled airspace two weeks ago.

The same [Lebanese] official claimed that the Lebanese army had noticed a decline in Israeli over flights since the warning was issued on the first of October, but clarified that flights in the area remained ongoing. (YNET News)

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Yes, there’s a new sheriff in town and the Likudniks must be shivering in their boots. Things will never be the same again. I am glad to see that the IAF had the good sense to consent to a “hotline” with Russia to coordinate air activity over Syria and Lebanon. This incident sent the message that coordination means the IAF best stay the hell out of Russia’s way. Netanyahu needs to get that through his thick skull PDQ.

TTG