MOSCOW, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday discussed bilateral cooperation, including their military relations, as well as the situation in the Middle East.

According to a brief press release published by the Kremlin, the conversation was initiated by the Israeli side.

The phone call was made amid growing concerns that the situation in the Middle East may worsen after Washington recognized Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, territory Israel seized from Syria in 1967, which has not been recognized by the international community.

Russia maintains the Hmeymim military airfield and the Tartus naval base in Syria under an agreement with Damascus in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.