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| Russia Urges Iran to Move Troops From Western Syria |
Moscow - Russia has urged Iran to remove its troops and militias from areas in western Syria to avoid further air strikes from neighboring Israel. The news was revealed by the Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.
Citing sources reportedly close to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the outlet reported that during a meeting Wednesday between three Russian officials and their Iranian counterparts at the Hama military airport, Moscow "demanded that Iran evacuate" their military positions near Hama and the coastal city of Tartous.
Over the past few years, Israel has frequently carried out air strikes on the locations and positions of Iranian militias inside Syria, especially in the west and southwest. According to Tel Aviv, the attack was an attempt to contain Iran's influence and prevent a land corridor stretching from Iraq to Lebanon that Iran and its militias could use.
Israel's actions cause more problems for the Syrian regime and its own forces, which are sometimes affected by such attacks. Civil infrastructure was also affected, including the international airport in the capital Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo.
Until now, however, there have been little or no reports of increased friction between Syrian forces and their Iranian allies and affiliated militias, which have aided the Assad regime during the civil war.
Moscow's demands to Tehran, if proven correct, could further signal rising tensions between Russian and Iranian forces in Syria. Russia and Iran have often competed for dominance and influence in Syria over the past decade.