beirut iran military chief meet syrian president bashar al-assad thursday visit damascus set joint military strategy syria state news agency report sign deepen iranian influence alarm israel general mohammad baqeri say iran determine continue support syrian leadership people security safety return would help reconstruction state news agency sana say israel voice deep concern tehran widen influence syria iranian force iran-backed militias include lebanon hezbollah play critical role help assad six-year-long war tuesday baqeri speak damascus warn israel breach syrian airspace territory pledge increase cooperation syria military fight israel sunni jihadist militants israel air force say strike arm convoy syrian military hezbollah nearly 100 time war israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu say iran strengthen foothold syria israel would whatever take protect security tensions rise year lebanon hezbollah israel avoid major conflict since 2006. meet baqeri assad say iranian people arm force key partner victories terrorism syria sana report military support iran russia help assad regain swathe syria rebel islamic state militants iranian general assad discuss joint military strategy report