Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu disagreed over the threat to Israel’s security from Syria as they began talks in Moscow on the crisis in the war-torn country.

Israel and Russia have a “common interest in ensuring stability” in the region and “the security situation is becoming more and more complicated on our northern border,” Netanyahu told Putin on Monday. Iran and Syria are arming Hezbollah with modern weapons, and trying to open a second “terrorist front” on the Golan Heights, while Israel is doing everything to prevent this, Netanyahu said.

‘In these circumstances, I felt it was very important to come here to explain our position and to do everything to avoid any misunderstanding between you and our forces in the region,” Netanyahu said.

Russia has always acted responsibly in the region, while Syria and its army are in no condition to open a second front and are “trying to preserve their statehood,” Putin said. “Nevertheless, I fully understand your concerns.”

The talks are taking place after Russia said on Friday that it’s willing to consider sending troops into combat in war-torn Syria if President Bashar al-Assad requests help. U.S. Defense SecretaryAshton Carter spoke about Syria by phone with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on Friday in their first conversation since he entered the Pentagon in February. The U.S., which says Assad must go as part of resolving the four-year civil war, accuses Russia of increasing military aid to Syria in recent weeks by sending tanks, artillery and personnel, and setting up what the Pentagon says may be a forward airbase near the coastal city of Latakia.

Read the article “Putin and Netanyahu Divided over Threat from Crisis in Syria” on bloomberg.com.