Israel is actively pressuring the United States to maintain Russian military bases in Syria. This request is part of a larger strategy to keep Syria weak and prevent Turkey from increasing its influence in the region.

BEIRUT/WASHINGTON - Israel is lobbying the United States to keep Syria weak and decentralised, including by letting Russia keep its military bases there to counter Turkey's growing influence in the country,

Israel is lobbying the US to maintain Syria's weakness and Russian military bases in response to Turkey's growing influence in the region. This move is aimed at preventing a security threat to Israel from Islamist forces backed by Ankara,