JERUSALEM, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton on Wednesday defended Israel's deadly airstrikes in Syria, describing them as acts of "self-defense."
At a press conference in Jerusalem before concluding his trip in Israel, Bolton said the Israeli attacks on Iran-supplied missiles in the Israeli northern neighbor are a "legitimate self-defense."
The United States plans to do "other things" to increase the pressure on Iran, beyond the newly re-imposed economic sanctions, he added.
Meanwhile, the U.S. official revealed that he will discuss with Russian officials in Geneva on Thursday over a possible joint effort to force Iranian forces to withdraw from Syria.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he "would be glad to see the Iranian forces go back to Iran," Bolton noted.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying leaders in the United States and Europe to oppose the Iranian efforts to establish a military foothold in Syria.
The hawkish U.S. senior official arrived in Israel on Sunday, where he met with Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, and other security officials mainly over Iran-related issues.
