Exclusive: Israel lobbies US to keep Russian bases in a 'weak' Syria, sources say
By Maya Gebeily and Humeyra Pamuk
February 28, 202510:59 AM ESTUpdated 5 hours ago
SNIP
Turkey has said it wants Syria to become stable and pose no threat to its neighbours. It has repeatedly said Israel's actions in southern Syria were part of its expansionist and invasive policy, and showed Israel did not want regional peace.
To contain Turkey, Israeli officials have sought to persuade U.S. officials that Russia should keep its Mediterranean naval base in Syria's Tartus province and its Hmeimim air base in Latakia province, the sources said.
When Israeli officials presented Russia's continued presence in a positive light in a meeting with U.S. officials, some attendees were surprised, arguing that Turkey - a NATO member - would be a better guarantor of Israel's security, two of the U.S. sources said.
Israeli officials were "adamant" that was not the case, the sources said.
https://www.reuters.com/world/israel-lobbies-us-keep-russian-bases-weak-syria-sources-say-2025-02-28/