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UK worried by Iran role in Israel-Syria border confrontation: Johnson

LONDON (Reuters) - British foreign minister Boris Johnson said London was concerned at Iran's role in a confrontation at Israel’s border with Syria. "We are concerned at the Iranian actions, which detract from efforts to get a genuine peace process under way," Johnson said in a statement on Monday. "We encourage Russia to use its influence to press the regime and its backers to avoid provocative actions and to support de-escalation in pursuit of a broader political settlement," he said. In the most serious confrontation yet between Israel and Iranian-backed forces in Syria, anti-aircraft fire on Saturday downed an Israeli warplane returning from a bombing raid on Iran-backed positions. (Writing by William Schomberg; editing by John Stonestreet)