Israel is no longer taking a public position on Syrian President Bashar Assad's prospects of staying in power, its Defense Minister said Tuesday, citing the opposing goals of the United States and Russia as they intervene in the civil war.

That view hewed to the strategy of the United States and its Arab partners, which back some Syrian rebels and say Assad has lost legitimacy to lead. But with Assad holding on and now helped by a Russian military intervention, Israel has gone mum.

Various forces clashing in Syria have at times tried to discredit each other with charges of collaboration with Israel.

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