Lavrov Tells Tillerson To Take Steps To Stop 'Provocations' Against Syrian Forces

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left) and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (file photo)

Russia says Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has told his American counterpart to "take measures to prevent provocations" against Syrian government forces.

In a June 26 telephone call with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Lavrov urged Washington to take measures to prevent provocations against Syrian government troops conducting operations against terrorists," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

There was no immediate comment from the State Department.

The communique was issued after Israel said it had fired on Syrian positions on June 25 in response to projectiles from Syria that landed in the occupied Golan Heights.

The call was the second between Lavrov and Tillerson in less than a week. It came as U.S.-Russian relations continue to spiral downward.

During the previous call, Lavrov accused U.S. forces of undermining the Syrian government's offensive against Islamic State fighters.

U.S. forces have stepped up military actions in Syria in recent weeks, shooting down drones and a Syrian Air Force jet, prompting Russia to warn it will start tracking U.S. aircraft over Syria.

With reporting by AFP